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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
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THE AMERICAN 

BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL; 

OR DIRECTIONS FOR THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF 

AMERICAN AND FOREIGN SINGING BIRDS. 

WITH PARTICULAR INSTRUCTIONS 

FOR THE 

BREEDING OF CANARY BIRDS, 

AND THE PROPER TREATMENT OF THEIR YOUNG. 

TOGETHER WITH 

SOME REMARKS UPON THE DISEASES 

TO WHICH BIRDS ARE LIABLE — PREVENTION AND REMEDIES. 

WITH A MINUTE DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 

OR MARKINGS OF THE DIFFERENT SEXES, SO AS TO BE ABLE 

TO DISTINGUISH THE MALE FROM THE FEMALE. 

By JAMES MANN, 

TAXIDERMIST, DEALER IN BIRDS, NATURAL CURIOSITIES, ETC. 



BOSTON: 
PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR, AT 22 WATER STREET, 

AND SOLD BY 

LITTLE AND BROWN, AND W. D. TIGKNOR AND CO. 

NEW YORK: C. S. FRANCIS AND CO. 

PORTLAND : E. C. ANDREWS. 

1848. 



SF4 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S48, 
By James Mann, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massa- 
chusetts. 



boston: 

printed by freeman and bolles- 

DEVONSHIRE STREET. 



PREFACE. 



From my early days I have been an enthusiastic 
admirer of Birds, and have always considered these 
beautiful denizens of our woods and fields as the most 
interesting and delightful portion of animated nature. 
In a beautiful rural landscape it is the Birds that give 
life and vigor to the scene ; and when the passing 
breeze brings sweet sounds of harmony to the ear, it 
comes from those lovely feathered choristers who 
give animation and beauty to Nature. 

It will be a pleasing reflection to me therefore, if 
I can aid and assist those that keep Birds in the proper 
management of them, and thereby increase the com- 
fort and happiness of my feathered friends, from whom 
I have derived so much real pleasure. 

In laying this little work before the public I redeem 
a pledge to many of my friends, (some of them years 
ago,) that I would at some time or other write some- 
thing about the management of Birds ; they, no doubt, 
supposing as I do, that any person that ■ has spent as 



IV PREFACE. 

much time among Birds as I have, ought to know some- 
thing about them. 

I have endeavored to bring into notice some of our 
Birds, to which, as yet, little attention has been paid ; 
which if found in Europe would be highly prized, and 
I have described some European Birds which have not 
as yet found their way here ; nearly all the Birds de- 
scribed I have had in my possession, and I have laid 
down some plain rules for their proper treatment. For 
some time past I have been trying experiments on 
purpose to ascertain what is the most suitable food for 
them in a domestic state, and the result I now lay before 
you. If there are any of my readers who may think 
that my diet is too simple, and that there is not variety 
enough in it — that a bit of sweet cake is good for 
them, and a bit of sugar cannot hurt them, they are 
so fond of it, — to those I would say, that I know by 
experience that birds are like children, and that the 
simpler their food is, if natural, the better they will 

thrive. 

J. M. 



CONTENTS. 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 

Page 

THE GRAY MOCKING BIRD. 9 

BLACK-CAPPED MOCKING BIRD, OR CAT BIRD . . 14 

FERRUGINOUS THRUSH, OR BROWN THRASHER . . 16 

THE RED-BREASTED THRUSH OR ROBIN . . 18 

WOOD OR SONG THRUSH ...... 20 

EUROPEAN THRUSHES. 

THE ENGLISH BLACK THRUSH, OR BLACK BIRD . 22 

ENGLISH THRUSH, OR MAVIS ..... 24 

THE MISEL-THRUSH ...... 26 

ROCK THRUSH ....... 26 

AMERICAN FINCHES. 

INDIGO FINCH 28 

NONPAREIL, OR PAINTED BUNTING .... 29 

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, OR YELLOW BIRD . * 30 

PURPLE FINCH, OR RED LINNET .... 32 

SONG FINCH, OR SPARROW 34 

TOWHE BUNTING, OR SWAMP ROBIN .... 35 

LESSER RED POLL FINCH, OR LINNET ... 36 

FOX-COLORED FINCH, OR SPARROW .... 38 

SNOW BUNTING 39 

SNOW BIRD 40 

WHITE CROWNED BUNTING 41 

COWPEN FINCH, OR COWBIRD 42 



VI CONTENTS. 

EUROPEAN FINCHES. 

Page 

GOLDFINCH, ....... 44 

BULLFINCH 46 

CHAFFINCH ....... 48 

GREENFINCH, OR LINNET 51 

GRAY LINNET ....... 52 

CANARY FINCH 54 

GROSSBEAKS. 

CARDINAL GROSSBEAK 62 

ROSE-BREASTED GROSSBEAK . . . .63 

BLUE GROSSBEAK ....... 65 

PINE GROSSBEAK ....... 66 

COMMON CROSSBILL 68 



BATIMORE ORIOLE ........ 69 

SCARLET TANAGER ...... 72 

SUMMER RED BIRD ....... 74 

PURPLE GRAKLE, OR CROW BLACK BIRD . . 75 

RUSTY GRAKLE ....... 77 

EUROPEAN WARBLERS. 

NIGHTINGALE 78 

BLACK CAP 81 

ROBIN REDBREAST ...... 83 

AMERICAN LARKS. 

MEADOW LABK 86 

SHORR LARK . 88 

BROWN LARK ....... 89 



CONTENTS. Vii 

EUROPEAN LARKS. 

Page 

SKY LARK 91 

WOOD LARK ........ 94 



RICE BIRD, OR BOBOLINK ..... 95 

RED-WINGED STARLING ...... 99 

EUROPEAN STARLING ...... 102 

GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER BIRD . . 103 

CEDAR WAXWING ...... 106 

BLUE JAY ........ 109 

THE MAGPIE . . . . . . . 112 

EUROPEAN JAY . . . . . . .114 

CAROLINA PARROT . . . . . . 115 

EUROPEAN SISKIN FINCH 117 

SOUTH AMERICAN, ASTATIC, AND AFRICAN 

BIRDS. 

ORIOLES .119 

ICTERUS ORIOLE, OR TROOPIAL ..... 119 

CACIQUE ORIOLE . . . . . . . 121 

RED-RUMPED ORIOLE . . . . . .121 

BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE ...... 122 

CRESTED DOMINICAN GROSSBEAK .... 123 

MINO BIRD ........ 124 

JAVA FINCH, OR SPARROW ..... 126 

BROAD-SHAFTED WIDAH FINCH ". 128 

CRIMSON-COLLARED WIDAH ..... 130 

RED-BILLED WIDAH ...... 130 

AMANDAVA, OR AVODAVINE FINCH . . . .131 

SENEGAL FINCH, OR SPICE BIRD .... 132 



Vlll CONTENTS. 

DOVES. 

Page 

RING DOVE ....... 133 

TURTLE DOVE ....... 135 

PARROTS. 

GRAY, OR AFRICAN PARROT 136 

BRAZILIAN GREEN PARROT ..... 138 

WHITE-FRONTED PARROT ...... 139 



-*- 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BREEDING OF CANA- 
RY BIRDS, AND THE PROPER TREATMENT 
OF THE YOUNG. 

LOCATION FOR EREEDING 141 

PAIRING 142 

BREEDING CAGES, NESTS, ETC. .... 145 

HATCHING, AND TREATMENT OF THE YOUNG . . 150 

MOULTING OF THE YOUNG 155 

MOULTING OF THE OLD BIRDS. .... 156 

DISEASES, TO WHICH CANARIES, AND OTHER 
BIRDS ARE LIABLE, IN A DOMESTIC STATE. 

INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS .... 158 

CONSTIPATION, OR COSTIVENESS EPILEPSY . . 159 

ASTHMA DIARRHOEA — DISEASES OF THE FEET . 160 

MOULTING — LOSS OF VOICE 162 



MITES . . . . . . . 163 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE REARING OF AME- 
RICAN BIRDS FROM THE NEST . . 164 

WHAT THOSE WHO KEEP BIRDS OUGHT 
NOT TO DO 166 



BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 



THE GRAY MOCKING BIRD. 

This far-famed bird is unquestionably the 
prince and leader of the feathered choir. And 
for his power of imitation, compass of voice, and 
brilliancy of execution, has no compeer among 
all his tribe. Many years ago our transatlan- 
tic friends endeavored to set up their Night- 
ingale in competition with the American Mock- 
ing Bird. Of the song of the Nightingale, from 
personal observation, we can give no opinion j* 
but it was then acknowledged that the song of 
the Mocking Bird was equal, if not superior to 

* See Nightingale. 



10 bird-keeper's manual. 

the notes of the Nightingale, in their utmost com- 
pass. Now, as it is known to all who ever heard 
both, that the imitations of this bird are true to 
life, and equal, if not superior, to the originals, 
the great superiority of the Mocking Bird, as a 
songster, must appear evident to all ; and, indeed, 
it is no longer disputed, for the best European 
judges have long ago yielded the palm of victory 
to the American songster ; and it is not only in 
his own native forests that he reigns triumphant 
as a vocalist, for we have seen him in a room, 
surrounded with the best American and foreign 
songsters, not only defy all competition, but by 
some sudden gush of melody actually awe them 
all into silence. And we have no hesitation in 
saying, that the American Mocking Bird stands 
alone in the world, unrivalled as a songster. 
This bird loses little if any of its musical powers, 
in the cage. Birds, when kept for some years, 
I think rather improve in strength and fulness 
of tone. Some birds will sing in the night, dur- 
ing summer and autumn. 

We will now proceed to inform our readers, 
from our own experience and the best sources, 
how to keep in good health, and make happy, 
this delightful bird. It is by.no means so difficult 
to keep this bird as is generally imagined. Feed 



- AMERICAN THRUSHES. 11 

your bird regularly ; keep your cage clean and 
dry ; do not let his victuals get stale or sour. If 
these simple rules are attended to, the Mocking 
Bird will live, on an average, as long as any bird 
that is kept in a cage. 

There are various diets adopted for this bird. 
At the South, the general food is egg and potatoe 
mixed ; here at the North it is Indian meal and 
milk, and I knew a gentleman in Maine who 
kept a very fine bird for three years ; he fed it 
upon eggs and beef alone. It died moulting, 
occasioned, as he supposed, by a fall from its 
perch when in that state, owing to a sudden jar 
given to the cage. 

I have tried all those different modes of feed- 
ing, and I am inclined to believe, that the meal 
and milk is the best, at least for this section of 
the country. In summer I scald the milk, which 
prevents it from souring so soon ; and even then 
it is well to give your bird a little fresh at noon 
in very warm weather. I give them likewise 
about half of the yolk of a hard boiled egg twice 
a week, and as often a bit of beef, (the lean); it 
should be laid on a table and scraped with a 
knife, which frees the beef from the muscles ; it 
is then like a paste, and they can eat without the 
danger of suffocation, by swallowing too large a 



12 bird-keeper's manual. 

piece; about the bulk of a hazel nut is enough 
for the day. 

They are very fond of what is commonly 
called meal worms, which are found in pigeon- 
houses, and grain stores. When I have them. I 
give a bird two or three a day, but you cannot 
procure them at all times even if you breed 
them,* and the beef is a good substitute ; and 
when you keep a bird, it is well to accustom him 
to eat what you can procure at all seasons of the 
year. Berries in summer, and small black cur- 
rants in winter, and a sweet ripe apple, cut in 
two, and one half put into the cage so as they 
can eat out of the heart of it, is highly beneficial 
to them. 

About the end of July or the beginning of Au- 

* To breed meal worms, take a jar or small pail that will contain 
four or five quarts ; put in it about two quarts of manure from a 
pigeon-house, a handful of meal worms, and about a pint of Indian 
meal. Put on the top of this some woollen rags, and tie a piece of 
cloth over the top ; then put it in a dry and warm place. Then you 
must have some worms to begin with ; (but by the following method, 
taken from an English work, which I have not yet tried, you can do 
without :) In case you cannot procure meal worms, and they are some- 
times very scarce, buy, or beg, from a vessel returned from a long 
voyage, some stale ship biscuit, soak it in cold water, squeeze it 
dry, and put it in a covered vegetable dish in a closet, or other warm 
place. In a few weeks you will obtain an ample supply of meal 
worms. 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 13 

gust, this bird begins to moult or shed his old 
and worn out feathers, to be replaced by new. 
(Of this general law of nature among the feather- 
ed tribe, I will speak more fully hereafter.) The 
sooner this takes place the better; for when it is 
retarded until the weather gets cool, it is apt to 
be protracted ; and sometimes the new feathers 
come out twisted, and not smooth, which is very 
annoying, as it spoils the appearance of the bird, 
if not his song. If there is no appearance of the 
bird beginning to shed his feathers about this 
time, give him plenty of ripe berries. I have 
found by experience, that this food hastens the 
operation, and it is highly necessary, both for the 
health and beauty of the bird, that it should 
moult early. 

Give your bird water in a shoal vessel, every 
morning, to wash. This bird is not so fond of 
bathing as some other birds. When I have had 
a bird that did not use the bath, I have put near 
him a bird that washed regularly, every morn- 
ing, and it has had the desired effect of inducing 
him to do likewise. Keep plenty of gravel in 
the bottom of your cage. 

As female birds generally have no song, and 
in procuring singing birds it is highly important 
to know how to distinguish the male from the 



14 bird-keeper's manual. 

female, I shall in this work endeavor to give a 
minute description of the general characteristics 
or markings which distinguish the sexes. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The white on 
the wing of a full grown male spreads over the 
whole of the primaries, or longest wing feathers, 
as well as the coverts or feathers that cover the 
shoulders; it reaches also well down on the wing 
below the coverts. The two outside feathers of 
the tail are white, and the others, except the two 
middle ones, are tipt with white. 

On the female the white is only on seven of the 
primaries, and is less pure, and does not descend 
so far down, and comes farther down on the 
broad than the narrow side of the feather. 

Location. — Found on the Mississippi and 
Ohio. In the Southern States — Resident. 



BLACK-CAPPED MOCKING BIRD, OR CAT BIRD. 

This bird is familiarly known to every boy in 
New England, from its very peculiar call while 
partly concealed in its favorite bramble, or black- 
berry bush, which exactly resembles the cry of a 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 15 

young kitten in distress. He is not at all suspi- 
cious or afraid of you ; and on your nearer ap- 
proach will hasten to occupy a more conspicuous 
situation in the bush, and jerking up his tail, sa- 
lute you with his favorite call. He is truly a 
mocking bird, endeavoring to imitate every bird 
he hears. Industrious and persevering, he will 
repeat his imitations over and over again. 
But unfortunately he is deficient in clearness and 
strength of voice, and therefore fails in many of 
his imitations. I have often listened to him with 
great pleasure, while probably perched over my 
head on some sapling, trying hard to imitate 
every bird he heard, and seeming at times to 
get quite excited when he failed in doing so to 
his satisfaction. He is, however, no contemptible 
songster, and has some natural notes, which he 
sings very sweetly in the cage. 

Food. — I have kept them in good health on 
meal and milk, a little bruised hempseed, and a 
bit of beef, occasionally scraped, as for the Mock- 
ing bird. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male 
may be distinguished from the female, by the 
red under the tail being brighter on the male. 
Otherwise they are very much alike. 



16 BIRD-KEEPER S MANUAL. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States. In the Southern — Resident. 



FERRUGINOUS THRUSH, OR BROWN THRASHER. 

This is a handsome, lively, and active bird, 
and in length of tail and shape bears a strong 
resemblance to the Gray Mocking Bird. In the 
Southern States he is called the French Mocking 
Bird; but his notes are not imitative, as this 
name would seem to imply, but are, I believe, 
solely his own. They are clear, arid in some 
birds^ loud, and full of variety. — They are the 
largest of our Thrushes, and their notes bear 
some resemblance to the English Thrush or 
Mavis. They are, upon the whole, rather dis- 
tinguished songsters, and I am glad to see that 
their value is beginning to be appreciated, and 
there are a good many more of them kept in 
cages now than were formerly. 

This bird shows a remarkable instance of what 
would certainly appear to be the possession of 
reasoning powers, or faculties. It is very fond 

* There is a difference in the singing of birds of the same species ; 
some are much better singers than others, even in their wild state. 
This difference may depend upon the age of the bird ; the old birds 
may be the best singers. 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 17 

of hard crumbs of bread; if very small it will 
swallow them as they are ; if larger it will pick 
them up and carry them to the water dish, and 
drop them in the water, wait until they are 
moistened, then take them out, and, if they are 
very large, pick them to pieces ; the others they 
will swallow, as there is now no danger of their 
hurting their gullet, or sticking in their pas- 
sage down. This I have often been an eye-wit- 
ness of, and so may any person who has one of 
those birds in his possession. Is this reason, or 
is it instinct? At all events it is exactly what 
we would do, if placed under the same circum- 
stances. 

Food. — Meal and milk, and a bit of scraped 
beef, two or three times a week ; berries in the 
summer, and black currants in the winter. They 
should have plenty of gravel in the bottom of the 
cage, or in a box, as they are fond of dusting 
themselves in it, like the Sky Lark. This bird 
suffers severely in the moulting; they should 
then have more nourishing food, which all birds 
require when in that state. Give them a few 
meal worms, if you have them, if not a few 
ground worms. Change their meal to bread and 
milk twice a week, and give them berries and 
ripe apple.- 



18 bird-keeper's manual. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the whole of the upper parts, and 
the tail, which is long and rounded at the end, 
of a brownish red. There are two bars of white 
on the wing, and the lower parts are of a yellow- 
ish white, with long pointed spots of black. The 
female has the white on its wing much narrow- 
er, and has fewer spots on the breast ; otherwise 
they are very much alike. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States. In the Southern and Western — Resident. 



THE RED-BREASTED THRUSH OR ROBIN. 

This is a hardy, vigorous, and well known 
bird, handsome in shape, beautiful in his plumage, 
and graceful in his attitudes ; and, although he 
is a heavy bird of his size, there is none pos- 
sessed of more agility, and who will leap lighter 
on their perch than the Robin. It is delightful 
to hear him salute the opening morn with his 
fine mellow note ; he will also imitate other 
birds, and a good singing Robin is a valuable 
cage bird, for it is not every bird that will sing in 
a cage, at least the first and second year. I have 
at present a beautiful male bird who was a year 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 19 

old last spring; I have had him all summer, and 
never have heard him sing a note ; I intend to 
keep him until next spring, to see what he will 
do then; I have had others who have sung very 
well the first year. The young are pretty hard 
to raise, being subject to the cramp in their legs 
and other parts of their bodies. I have found it 
very beneficial to them to put two or three inches 
of dry saw-dust in the bottom of the cage ; they 
seem to enjoy it very much, and when put in the 
sun would lay down in it on their side, and 
stretch themselves out at full length. I was very 
successful in raising them last spring by this 
treatment. Put plenty of gravel in the bottom 
of the cage of the old bird, and, when it can be 
procured, a piece of turf, of which they are very 
fond. They are, when grown, a hardy bird. 

Food. — Meal and milk, a bit of beef, and 
plenty of water to wash with is all they require. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male is 
much redder on the breast than the female, the 
gray and white is also brighter, the bill is tinged 
with black, but ultimately it becomes pure yellow. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States, and in them all nearly Resident. 



20 bibd-keeper's manual. 



WOOD OR SONG THRUSH. 

This is a shy and solitary bird, but a charming 
songster, frequenting the most lonely and se- 
cluded portions of our forests. They are never 
seen but in pairs or singly, and oftener heard 
than seen. The male is generally discovered on 
the top of some high tree in the morning, or 
towards the evening, where he pours forth his 
few but very sweet notes, making the woods 
echo with his melody. I have not yet had an 
opportunity of testing the singing properties of this 
bird in a cage, as I have not been able to procure 
one alive, or a nest, although I have offered a 
high premium for either. The first I ever saw, 
and which I wished to obtain, as a specimen for 
preservation, gave me a pursuit of more than 
two hours through the woods before I obtained 
it. It resembles the European Song Thrush 
more than any other of our Thrushes, but it is 
much smaller in size. 

Food. — We have never had the pleasure of 
feeding this bird in a cage, but we hope soon to 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 21 

have ;* there is no doubt but it can be fed like 
other Thrushes. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — In the whole 
genus of Thrushes, the male and female bear a 
strong resemblance one to another ; in this species 
it is so close that we are unable to give any dis- 
tinguishing marks either in size or plumage. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States. Many of them winter in the Southern 
States. Not abundant. 

There are two or three more Thrushes found 
within the territory of the United States, but 
they have little or no song, with the exception 
of the Water Thrush (of Wilson), which is said 
to sing sweetly ; some of them winter in the 
Southern States. Here they are very rare. They 
breed in the Fur countries, and are smaller in 
size than the Song Thrush. 

* We hope that some of our young friends in the country, who 
see this, will endeavor to find a nest of this bird ; directions for 
raising the young of which and other birds, they will find in this 
volume. 



22 bird-keeper's manual. 



EUROPEAN THRUSHES. 



THE ENGLISH BLACK THRUSH, OR BLACK 

BIRD. 

When clothed in his fine, jet black and glossy 
plumage, with his bright yellow bill, this is really 
a beautiful bird. He is familiar and docile ; he 
can be taught to whistle a tune distinctly and 
clearly, and there is probably no bird possessed 
of such melodious and soft flute-like notes as the 
English Black Bird. I have heard one in a 
cage, early in the morning, in a large city, whist- 
ling " Over the water to Charlie," with great 
truth and harmony, and so loud as to be heard 
distinctly half a mile off. If you wish to teach 
your bird a tune, cover over the cage with a cloth 
about half an hour before sunset; then go near 
the cage, and whistle the tune you wish him to 
learn. Go over it slowly, from beginning to end, 
then repeat, say a dozen of times, or more. If he 
is a young bird you may hear him commence it 
in a few days. Be careful to whistle the tune, 
and nothing else, and if you whistle to him 
through the day, let it be the same tune. 



EUROPEAN THRUSHES. 23 

Food. — My readers will perceive that I recom- 
mend meal and milk as a staple diet for all 
Thrushes, and what is called soft-billed birds ; 
that is, all birds that require soft food. It is be- 
cause experience has taught me, that it is prefer- 
able to any other food which can be given. 
Bread and milk, and crackers and milk, is the 
common food of those birds in England, but it is 
too purgative for birds, as a constant diet. Last 
summer I had a Black Bird brought to me, which 
had been four or five weeks imported, and had 
been fed on bread and milk. It really looked 
miserable; he was dirty, and his plumage was 
matted and wet; the cage also was wet, although 
the person who brought it had taken pretty 
good care of the bird, and regularly cleaned the 
cage. I immediately commenced feeding him 
upon meal and milk. The first day he ate very 
sparingly of it, and threw a considerable part of 
it out of the cage ; the next day he ate a little 
more, and threw none of it out; the third day 
he ate heartily of it, and in three or four days 
he looked better, and was probably in better 
health than ever he had been. I had him 
about three months in my possession, and when 
he left it there never was a prettier Black Bird 
in a cage, and he was in full song. His meal 



24 bird-keeper's manual. 

and milk, and about twice a week a little beef, 
prepared as for the Mocking Bird, was all he 
had. I use the yellow, or northern corn meal, in 
preference to the white, or southern. Meal and 
milk, a bit of beef, scraped, once or twice a 
week, berries in summer, and a bit of ripe ap- 
ple and a few black currants, occasionally, in 
winter, are sufficient. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird is easily distinguished from the female. 
The male is all black, the bill a bright yellow. 
The female upper parts are amber brown, throat 
a dirty white, lower parts yellowish brown, bill 
brown, tinged with the fine yellow of the male. 

Location. — Found throughout Britain, and 
Resident. 



ENGLISH THRUSH, OR MAYIS. 

This is a most excellent songster, and comes 
nearer, in the clearness and melody of its notes, 
to the great American musician, the Mocking 
Bird, than perhaps any other bird known. — -They 
will also imitate other birds. I have one, at pre- 
sent, which, there is no doubt, has profited in 



EUROPEAN THRUSHES. 25 

that respect, by being near a Mocking Bird, a 
very superior singer. But their own natural 
notes are delightful, resembling the Ferruginous 
Thrush, but much finer, and fuller in tone. In 
shape and color it resembles the Wood Thrush, 
as has been observed, but it is larger in size ; it 
has also the same attachment to an elevated po- 
sition when singing ; and in the North of Scot- 
land, where high trees are rather scarce, he will 
get on the pinnacle of a high rock, to pour forth 
his song and cheer his mate, who is sitting far 
below, making the surrounding hills echo with 
his melody. 

Food. — Keep plenty of gravel in the bottom 
of your cage, and diet the same as for the 
Black Bird, with the addition of, about twice a 
week, half of a hard boiled egg, of which they are 
very fond, and which I think is beneficial to them. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — There is as 
much resemblance in the male and female of this 
bird, as in the Wood Thrush. The only differ- 
ence is in the dulness of the orange color, and 
the spots on the breast. 



Location. — Found throughout Britain, and 
Resident. 



26 bird-keeper's manual. 



THE MISSEL-THRUSH. 

This is the largest of its tribe, but it is far in- 
ferior to the former in song. Its notes are few, 
but musical, and pretty loud. In Britain, some 
years ago, it was rather a rare bird, but it is now 
more abundant. It is distinguished from other 
Thrushes by its size, and by the pure white on 
the under part of the wing. 

Food. — Diet the same as the former. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — There is 
little difference between the male and female, in 
size, or markings. The male is rather a brighter 
yellow on the lower part of the body. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe, Resi- 
dent. 



ROCK THRUSH. 



This is a very rare bird, of whose good quali- 
ties I am incapable of judging by observation, 
having never seen one ; nor do I believe it has 
ever been brought to this country ; but, as it is a 



AMERICAN THRUSHES. 27 

very good songster, and it may find its way here, 
we will tell what we know about it. It is said 
to be a very musical Thrush, and can be taught 
to whistle tunes, and even to articulate words, 
like the English Starling. It is found in the 
North of Scotland, where it builds its nest on 
inaccessible rocks ; also, on the Alps and Pyren- 
ees. It is highly prized, and an individual will 
bring in London as high as forty dollars. 

Food. — In feeding, it would seem to require a 
good deal of care and attention, as it feeds more 
on insects, in its wild state, than any of our 
Thrushes, it is recommended to be kept the same 
as the Nightingale. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — It is smaller 
in size than the English Thrush. Upper parts 
grayish blue, lower parts orange, and spotted like 
other Thrushes. The female not so bright in 
color as the male. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe, but 
very rare, Resident. 



28 bird-keeper's manual. 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 



INDIGO FINCH. 

This little Bird has two very good qualifica- 
tions ; it is beautiful and musical. It is a pretty 
little Bird, and a very sweet singer. It has also 
another characteristic peculiar to itself. It does 
not seem to be the least annoyed when exposed to 
the rays of a summer sun. During the heat of the 
day, in summer, most of our birds retire to the 
shade, and stop singing. But I have seen this 
little bird sit for an hour or two, in an exposed 
situation, in the meridian heat of a July sun, 
piping its sweet little notes without intermission. 
It is a very clean and docile bird in a cage, and 
has still another recommendation, that the longer 
you keep it the prettier it grows. I had one in 
my possession which had been kept for four years 
in a cage, and it was the most beautiful Indigo 
Bird I ever saw in my life; it was exactly like 
a piece of bright polished indigo, and was also a 
superior songster. 

Food. — A mixture of hemp and Canary seed, 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 29 

water to drink and wash, and gravel in the bot- 
tom of the cage, is all they require. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird is easily distinguished from the female ; 
the male being all blue, the female a grayish 
brown on the back, the lower parts clay color. 

Location. — Found, in summer, throughout the 
United States ; in the autumn, they migrate south. 



NONPAREIL, OR PAINTED BUNTING. 

This beautiful bird is a little larger in size, and 
somewhat inferior in song to the Indigo Finch, 
but what it lacks in song it makes up in the 
richness and variety of its plumage. The male 
is elegantly marked with vermilion, blue, yellow 
and green. They are very docile, and both male 
and female, when in full feather, are lovely cage 
birds. The male has a sweet note, it bears some 
resemblance to the Indigo, but is weaker and 
more concise. The planters on the Mississippi 
breed them in their aviaries, and I think they 
might be raised here ; but they require more care 
in whiter than any of our Finches, as they are 



30 BIRD-KEEPER S MANUAL. 

very susceptible of cold. They have been crossed 
with the Canary here, and make a beautiful 
variety. 

Food. — I have kept them in good health and 
fine plumage on a mixture of Canary and one 
third hemp seed, and a bit of ripe apple occa- 
sionally, of which they are very fond. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird is easily distinguished, dressed in his 
gaudy colors ; the female is of an olive green 
above, lower parts of a dusky straw color, cheeks 
and neck tinged with green. 

Location. — Found, in the summer, in Louis- 
iana, the Carolinas, and on the Mississippi ; in 
the autumn, they migrate south. 



AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, OR YELLOW BIRD. 

This little bird bears a strong resemblance to 
his European prototype, not quite so richly dress- 
ed, and somewhat inferior in song ; nevertheless, 
he is a sprightly and lively bird ; he is docile and 
familiar, and a sweet little songster, and if kept 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 31 

some time beside Canary birds will pick up their 
notes. His own natural notes bear a resem- 
blance to the European Goldfinch, but they are 
inferior in tone, feebler, and more concise ; in 
his habits he is the same, and is fond of the same 
food. They are fond of the seeds of the thistle. 
In districts where the thistle abounds in Europe, 
so does the Goldfinch, and where that plant is 
found in the United States, there you will find 
the American Goldfinch. If his transatlantic 
brother has a richer dress, he has the advantage 
of him, by having two — a summer dress and a 
winter one. On the approach of winter, the male 
puts off his beautiful lemon yellow color, and 
black wings and tail, and dons the sober olive- 
brown of the female, and in spring resumes it 
again. They are easily reconciled to confine- 
ment, and will sing a short time after being 
caught. 

Food. — They are very fond of hemp seed. I 
feed them one part hemp and part Canary seed ; 
a blade of lettuce or a bit of ripe apple is bene- 
ficial. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male in 
summer, is easily distinguished from the female ; 



32 bird-keeper's manual. 

the body of the male is bright yellow, wings and 
tail black ; the female is all over olive brown. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States in summer ; late in the autumn, they mi- 
grate south. 



PURPLE FINCH, OR RED LINNET. 

The birds of the United States may be divided 
into two general classes, summer birds and win- 
ter birds. The first class visit us in the spring, 
from the regions of the South, for the purpose of 
incubation ; that duty being performed, the young 
fledged, and the old birds recruited, and their old 
feathers replaced by new, they leave us for more 
congenial climes to spend their winter, and re- 
turn again in the spring. The second class hav- 
ing performed the same duty in the Northern re- 
gions, visit us to escape the rigors of the winter, 
again to return north in the spring. This bird's 
migrations do not extend so far north as some 
of our visiters, who have been found as far north 
as has yet been explored. The Purple Finch is 
a strong and vigorous bird, and a very good song- 
ster. They have a very fine warbling note, con- 
tinued to a considerable length, not unlike a Ca- 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 33 

nary bird, but not so loud ; they have also a kind 
of a call note, louder and very pleasant. They 
have been crossed with the Canary, the male 
Finch with the hen Canary, and the produce is 
a very fine vigorous and loud-singing mule bird. 

Food. — They are a hardy bird, and will thrive 
well on hemp and Canary, half of each, and 
plenty of gravel in the bottom of the cage; this 
should never be omitted, as it is very necessary 
for all birds, especially those who live upon seeds, 
for the proper digestion of their food. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — There is some 
difference of opinion as to the distinguishing 
markings of the male and female of this bird; 
there are some gray and others red, and it is sup- 
posed by some, that there are two different spe- 
cies, and by others, that the gray ones are all 
females. The first is not correct; they are the 
same species. And as to the second, I have 
proved by dissection, that some of the gray ones 
are males. The truth, I think is, that the gray 
ones, the males at least, are birds of the first year, 
as most of our birds are three, and some of them 
four years, before they arrive at their full plum- 
age. The old females may be gray, but at all 



34 bird-keeper's manual. 

events, the old males are a dark blood red on the 
head, breast, and neck, which turns after the 
first moulting in the cage to a dark golden yel- 
low. They are much wilder than some others 
of our winter visitants, the cause may be their 
breeding in more populous districts, as they do 
not go so far north as others, (as has been ob- 
served,) but they can be tamed and thrive well, 
and are contented in a domestic state. 

Location. — Found in the Middle and North- 
ern States in the winter and spring; in summer, 
to the Northward of this. 



SONG FINCH, OR SPARROW. 

If not the best musical performer that visits 
us from the South, there is none that meets a 
heartier welcome in New England than the Song 
Sparrow. While winter yet lingers, and seems 
loth to depart, and while yet our fields are mot- 
tled with patches of snow, and spots of bare 
earth, and Boreas, with his surly blast, still 
sweeps over our land, perched on an isolated 
shrub, or on the still almost snow-covered fence, 
the Song Sparrow pours forth his pleasing and 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 35 

welcome notes, which proclaims that the reign 
of stern winter is about over, and that genial 
spring is about to return to gladden the earth. 
It is the first songster in the spring, and its notes 
are pleasing to the ear; and it is the earliest, and 
by far the sweetest songster of all our Sparrows. 

Food. — It thrives well in a cage, fed on hemp 
and Canary seed, and soon becomes very tame. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — It is very 
difficult to distinguish the male from the female 
of this bird. The male is rather brighter in 
color. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States. Winters in the Southern States. 



TOWHE BUNTING, OR SWAMP ROBIN. 

This is a beautiful, and very familiar bird. He 
will allow you to walk close up to him, while 
engaged in his favorite occupation of scratching 
among the leaves for seeds, and the larvge of 
insects. From which the male will mount to 
the top of some small tree, or high bush, where 



36 bird-keeper's manual. 

he will pour out his simple but musical notes, for 
an hour at a time. While thus engaged, with 
his mottled black and white plumage, and his 
splendid long tail, he has a very elegant appear- 
ance. 

Food. — He can be kept, and will thrive well 
in a cage: it should be a middling laree one. 
Fed on one-third hemp and two-thirds Canary 
seed, with, twice or thrice a week, a small bit of 
beef, cut in very small pieces, or prepared, which 
is better, the same as for the Mocking Bird. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird is easily distinguished from the female; 
she being reddish brown where the male is black, 
and the white is not so pure. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States in summer. In the autumn migrates south. 



LESSER RED POLL FINCH, OR LINNET, 

This is another of our winter visitants, who 
extends his migrations from the north over both 
continents. Almost all of the birds who visit us 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 37 

in the winter, are tame and unsuspicious, allow- 
ing a person to walk close up to them, when 
feeding, without appearing to be interrupted. 
The cause may be, their being reared in those 
remote northern regions, far from the abodes of 
man, they have not that distrust or fear of him, 
which they have in populous countries. This 
little bird is peculiarly tame and docile, and it 
will begin eating immediately after being caught, 
if put in a cage with food. Their note is very 
pleasing, and they may be taught to draw their 
seed and water, like the Goldfinch. After the 
first moulting the red on the head and breast 
become a golden-yellow like the Purple Finch. 

Food. — This is a hardy little bird, and may 
be easily kept on a mixture of hemp and Canary 
seed. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male is 
easily distinguished from the female. The female 
is destitute of red on the breast. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe and 
America, during the winter. In summer, in the 
Northern Regions. 



38 bird-keeper's manual. 



FOX-COLORED FINCH, OR SPARROW. 



This is a plump and pretty bird, and is another 
of our winter visitants from the North. It is 
tame like the others ; is a large bird of its species, 
and being of a beautiful fox-color, it looks well 
in a cage. Its call is musical and loud, and it 
has some very fine low warbling notes. 

Food. — It is a hardy and strong bird, and will 
thrive well on hemp and Canary seed. If it gets 
too heavy, and does not take exercise enough, 
withdraw the hemp, and feed on Canary alone. 
Give it plenty of gravel, and water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male and 
female are very much alike, differing only in the 
male being brighter in color, especially about the 
shoulders. 

Location. — Found throughout the Northern 

and Middle, and, some seasons, the Southern 

States, during the fall and winter. Early in the 
spring leaves for the North. 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 39 



SNOW BUNTING. 



This is a bird who breeds in vast numbers in 
the solitary regions of the North ; and on the 
approach of winter migrates southward, on both 
Continents. They are found in the North of 
Europe, and in the Northern and Middle States, 
and some seasons as far south as Maryland, in 
the winter. They generally come with our first 
snow, and may be seen then in the vicinity of 
Boston, and attract attention from their curious 
appearance, being mottled black, white, and 
brown. They have some very sweet and musi- 
cal notes. 

Food. — They will live in a cage, but must be 
kept cool in warm weather. They may be fed 
on hemp and Canary, with a portion of rape- 
seed. They soon become tame, and reconciled to 
confinement. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male is 
larger than the female, and there is no other way 
to distinguish them, the colors are so various, 
and they are so much alike, that is, generally 
speaking, in the colors ; but there are hardly two 
of them which are exactly alike in the markings. 



40 bird-keeper's 



MANUAL. 



Location. — Found throughout the extreme 
northern regions in summer ; in winter, found in 
the North of Europe, and North America. 



SNOW BIRD. 

This little bird, like the former, visits us in 
great numbers from the north, on the approach 
of winter. They migrate extensively all over the 
country, from Maine to the Gulf of Mexico. 
Their summer migrations north are also very 
extensive. They arrive at Hudson's Bay about 
the first of June, in great numbers, and, after 
resting there a few days, they proceed farther 
north to breed. They have a very sweet, Imv 
note, and thrive very well in a cage. 

Food. — They had better be fed on Canary 
seed alone. As they are inclined to get too fat 
in the cage, they may have also a portion of 
rape seed. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 
the upper parts a deep slate color, lower parts 
pure white. The female differs in not having 
the colors so bright and pure. 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 41 



Location. — Found throughout the United 
States, in winter. Summer residence, in the 



Northern Regions. 



WHITE CROWNED BUNTING. 

This is a very beautifully marked species, and 
in Massachusetts rather rare, as it breeds to the 
northward of us. I have never seen but one in 
a cage ; it was an elegant bird, and sang delight- 
fully. The author of the Arctic Zoology says of 
it, in Hudson's Bay, where it is common, "it is 
silent in its flight, but when it perches it sings 
melodiously. ; ' It is found, also, in the State of 
Maine, where, I believe, it is more common. 

Food. — Canary, and about one-third hemp 
seed ; plenty of gravel, and water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — This bird is 
longer than the Purple Finch. The male has the 
crown of the head pure white, with a line of 
black from each nostril; below that another line 
of white. Chin white, upper parts pale, ash 
streaked on the back, with brown and white; 
lower parts, below the breast, white. The female 
is smaller in size: the white on the head is less 

3 



42 bird-keeper's manual. 

pure; the black is brownish, and less of it, and 
the ash color on the breast is brownish. 

Location. — Found from Massachusetts, (where 
a few may breed,) northward. Migrates south in 
winter. 



COWPEN FINCH, OR COWBIRD.* 

This bird, in its habits, differs from all the 
birds which are known to naturalists on the con- 
tinent of America ; and it is rather a remarkable 
coincidence that there is one, on the continent of 
Europe, which has the same habits, and only one. 
The Cowpen Finch, or Cowbird of America and 
the common Cuckoo of Europe, build no nests of 
their own, but lay their eggs in the nests of other 
birds, and adopt other birds as foster parents for 
their young. There are several birds' nests which 
are appropriated by the Cowbird as receptacles 
for its young, the owners of which are generally 
smaller birds than the Cowbird, the egg of which 
(there is only one deposited in a nest) is hatched 
two or three days sooner : the young Cowbird 
then manages to exclude all the eggs of the legit- 
imate owner, and takes sole possession of the 

* It is so named from its habit of following the cows in pastures. 



AMERICAN FINCHES. 43 

premises, which, when it is about a week old, it 
fills completely up. # I have seen the young Cow- 
pen Pinch in the nest of the American Gold- 
finch, the White-eyed Vireo, and Maryland Yellow 
Throat ; and there are three or four more whose 
nests it selects for the purpose of incubation. 

This cannot by any means be termed a 
songster; but if not famous for song he is, and 
will be, celebrated in the history of American 
birds, as being in his habits the only exception 
(as far as is known) to the common laws of na- 
ture which govern his tribe, on this continent. 

Although the note of this bird is not at all 
attractive, being a kind of chattering, they are a 
very pretty bird, and they keep themselves neat 
and clean in a cage. Some years ago I saw one 
that an elderly lady had kept for three years in a 
cage, as she said, for the history that was attach- 
ed to it. It was a male, jet black, with purple 
and violet reflections, and was in fine plumage ; 
it was quite a favorite with the old lady. 

* It is supposed by some that on the young Cowbird being 
hatched, the proprietors of the nest remove the eggs. It is said, 
that the Cuckoo (the eggs there being all hatched at the same time) 
hustles the other young out of the nest, or gets them on its back and 
jerks them out. In whatever way it is brought about, it is certain 
that the other young birds with the Cuckoo, and the eggs with the 
Cowbird disappear, and the foundlings become the sole occupants of 
the premises. 



44 bird-keeper's manual. 

Food. — They are hardy and easily kept on 
the same food as a Canary bird. 

Characteristics of the sexes. — The male is 
black with purple or violet, and sometimes green 
reflections ; the head and neck are generally of a 
deep drab, but in the bird mentioned above, the 
head and neck were jet black also. The female 
is a fine deep brown, lighter below. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States ; also to the northward. Migratory. Num- 
bers winter in the Southern States. 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 



GOLDFINCH. 

This is one of the most beautiful of the Eu- 
ropean cage birds. Besides the beauties of its 
plumage, it is a neat and clean little cage bird, 
and a sweet songster. It also possesses other 
good qualities ; it is docile, and apt to be taught, 
obedient to the call of its master or mistress, and 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 45 

capable of forming strong attachments to them. 
There is a resemblance between it and the Ameri- 
can Goldfinch in its manners and habits, and its 
partiality for the same food, as has been ob- 
served. It may be taught (the American also) 
to draw their seed and water, and they are easier 
taught this than any other birds I know of; they 
use their feet so nimbly, in holding on to the chain 
or cord to which their little buckets are suspend- 
ed. The European is the aptest scholar ; it is 
also superior in the beauty of the plumage, and 
likewise in its song, which, in some old birds, 
is very fine. They will imitate the Canary's 
notes, and also pair with them, the male Gold- 
finch with the yellow Canary hen ; the produce 
is sometimes marked with the fine colors of the 
Goldfinch, and they make, I think, the most 
beautiful and best singing mules that can be bred 
from the Canary. The American will also pair 
with a Canary, but I do not think there is any 
improvement in the produce, either in the color 
of the plumage or the song. 

Food. — I have kept these birds in good health 
and spirits, (drawing their seed and water, and 
singing alternately,) on about half Canary and 
half hemp seed, with lettuce, cabbage, or ripe 



46 bird-keeper's manual. 

apple freely ; plenty of green stuff is benefi- 
cial to them, 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male and 
female of this bird are easily distinguished — that 
is, year old birds ; a young bird has some resem- 
blance to the female. The female has the crim- 
son around the bill much smaller and fainter, the 
black stripe round the head (or bridal, as it is 
called,) is brown in the female, and her body is 
brown where the male is black. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe — Resi- 
dent. 



BULLFINCH. 

This beautiful bird is universally admired both 
for its wonderful and musical powers, and its 
mild and inoffensive manners. It can be taught 
to whistle airs and melodies distinctly and accu- 
rately, with a soft and flute-like tone. It is also 
very tractable and obedient, and can be easily 
learned to come at the call of its master or mis- 
tress, and sit upon their finger and whistle a 
popular air or waltz. Its natural notes are also 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 47 

soft, sweet, and musical; it is, therefore, a gen- 
eral favorite, especially with the ladies. Those 
that are taught are called Piping Bullfinches, and 
are imported from England and Germany ; they 
are commonly taught with a bird organ ; but the 
voice, and whistling or a flageolet, are recommend- 
ed as superior. The Bullfinch will pair with a 
Canary, a tame hen Bullfinch with a spirited 
male Canary. The produce is a soft and very 
musical singing mule. 

Food. — I have kept these birds in good health 
upon Canary and rape seed, and occasionally a 
little hemp seed ; but the last must be given to 
them very sparingly, as these birds take but 
little exercise in a cage, and like some old gen- 
tlemen, they are naturally inclined to get cor- 
pulent. Some feed them on rape alone, but the 
Canary makes a little more variety for them, and 
even a very little hempseed at intervals I do not 
think is hurtful. It is said, that this bird's plum- 
age may be altogether changed to black by being 
fed upon hempseed alone ; this I rather doubt. 
I once saw a Sky Lark, which hung in its cage 
from the roof of a large apothecary's store ; it was 
a favorite bird, and a fine singer ; it had grown 
quite black. As the person that owned the bird 



48 bird-keeper's manual. 

had kept it a good many years, I gave as a cause 
old age; but the old gentleman said it was his 
opinion, that the change of color was brought 
on by the bird's inhaling the effluvia of the drugs. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The upper 
parts and tail of the male of this bird (wiih the 
exception of the shoulders, which are a bluish 
gray) are a rich glossy black ; the cheeks, throat, 
and under parts a delicate red ; the rump, vent, 
and under tail coverts, pure white. The female 
has the upper parts more of a brownish tint ; the 
red on the breast is also brownish ; it has not the 
beautiful clearness of the male in any of the 
colors. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe — Resi- 
dent. 



CHAFFINCH. 

This is a beautiful, lively, and active bird, and 
has some very sprightly, warbling notes. It is 
very highly prized in Germany, so much so, that 
it would seem, from the way they speak of it, 
that there is a Chaffinch mania prevailing in that 
country, somewhat like the Tulip mania which 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 49 

raged in Holland some years ago.^ The following 
is an extract from a German work, on the history 
of this bird, and my readers may judge for them- 
selves : — "Ruhl is a large manufacturing village 
inThuringia, the inhabitants of which, mostly cut- 
lers, have such a passion for the Chaffinches, that 
some have gone ninety miles from home, to take, 
with bird-lime, one of these birds, distinguished 
for its song, and have given one of their cows for 
a fine songster ; from which has arisen the com- 
mon expression. — such a Chaffinch is worth a cow. 
A common workman will give a loins d'or, (six- 
teen shillings sterling,) for a Chaffinch he ad- 
mires, and willingly live on bread and water to 
gain the money. An amateur cannot hear one 
that sings in a superior style the double trill of 
the Hartz, without being in an ecstasy. I have 
heard them say that one which knew this melody 
perfectly, certainly can converse, from its pro- 
nouncing the syllables so distinctly." There must 
certainly be a good deal of imagination in all 
this, or the organs of hearing in Germans must 
be superior to other men, as the translator of this 
work, who is a lover and keeper of birds him- 
self, says, in a note: "The notes of the wild 
Chaffinches in this country (England) are finer 

* Bechstein's Cage Birds. 



50 bird-keeper's manual. 

than any cage ones I ever heard in Germany." 
And again, the same gentleman says, "In En- 
gland they are very little prized, and but seldom 
kept." 

I have had several of these birds, and, although 
their note was very pleasant, they could by no 
means be ranked as superior songsters. Some 
time ago I had one ; whether it came from Thu- 
ringia or Yorkshire, I cannot tell, as it was caught 
in the vicinity of Boston, having escaped from 
some cage, no doubt. The young man who 
caught it, brought it to me to find out what kind 
of a yankee bird he had got, as he had never 
seen one like it before. I put it in a cage with 
some Canary birds, and it agreed very well with 
them. It was in fine plumage, very lively and 
active, and a male bird. It eat the same as the 
Canaries, was in excellent health all the time I 
had it, nearly three months, and it would some- 
times sit and warble its notes for an hour at a 
time. 

The male of this bird will pair with a hen 
Canary. 

Food. — Feed it the same as Canaries. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 51 

this bird has the forehead black, the crown, nape 
and sides of the neck grayish blue ; the back 
deep brown, the breast reddish brown. The 
female is smaller, the head, neck and back, a 
grayish brown, the breast a grayish red. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe — Resi- 
dent. 



GREEN FINCH, OR LINNET. 

This is a strong, hardy, and robust bird, and a 
pretty fair musical performer. He is remarkably 
docile, very easily tamed, and can be so com- 
pletely domesticated, as to be bred like the Ca- 
nary, in a cage or aviary. The male will also 

■ 

imitate the notes of other birds; and although 
rather difficult to teach, he is possessed of a very 
retentive memory, and will not forget what he 
once learns. 

This bird will pair freely with the Canary. 
Either the male or female Finch, with the female 
or male Canary, and will produce a strong sing- 
ing mule bird. 

Food. — This bird is easily kept. Food the 
same as Canary birds. 



52 bird-keeper's manual. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — Upper parts 
of the male a yellowish green ; lower parts 
shading almost to white. The female is smaller, 
the upper parts brownish, lower parts whitish. 
Breast ash color, with faint yellow spots. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe — Resi- 
dent. 



GRAY LINNET. 

The song of this bird consists of several lively 
strains, which succeed each other with great 
harmony, in a sweet and soft tone. It can also 
be taught tunes by whistling them to it, like the 
Bullfinch, and will imitate the notes of other 
birds; and is much prized in its native country, 
as a cage bird. As is the case with a good many 
of our American birds, the Gray Linnet does not 
arrive at maturity, either in its song or plumage, 
until it is at least three years old, which has led 
some to suppose that the same birds in different 
stages of plumage were distinct species. 

In my youth I kept a great many of these 
birds ; and from observations made since on 
them, I am satisfied that the Gray Linnet, the 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 53 

Rose Linnet, or Greater Redpole, the Mountain 
Linnet, or Twite, are the selfsame bird, and not 
distinct species. There are, first, the year old 
bird, or more, the Gray Linnet, (gray.) Second, 
the Rose Linnet, or greater Redpole, (top of the 
head and breast red,) two years old, or more. 
Third, the Mountain Linnet, or Twite, (the red 
changed to yellow,) three years old or more. 

The following are some of the reasons which 
have led me to the above conclusion, although I 
am aware that it conflicts with some high au- 
thorities on this subject. The eggs of the three 
are alike ; the nests, likewise, if the same ma- 
terial can be procured by the birds. The loca- 
tion is, in general, the same. The nest of the 
Gray Linnet, and the Mountain Linnet, have both 
been found in a furze bush. The song is the 
same, only the Mountain, or Yellow Linnet is 
superior. It is the oldest bird, therefore the best 
songster. 

Food. — Feed them on a mixture of Canary 
and rape seed, half of each, with occasionally a 
little hemp. They take but little exercise in 
the cage, therefore must be fed sparingly. Plenty 
of gravel, and water to wash, and lettuce, or cab- 
bage freely. 



54 bird-keeper's manual. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 
the primaries, or longest feathers of the wings, 
white on the widest side of the feather, also white 
feathers in the tail. The female is smaller in 
size, and the wing-feathers are only slightly tip- 
ped with white ; the same on the tail. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe- — Resi- 
dent. 



CANARY FINCH. 

This well-known bird is among Finches what 
the Gray Mocking Bird is among the Thrushes, 
the great musical leader of the tribe. We may 
go farther, and say that there is no bird of its 
size known to naturalists which can compare 
with the Canary Finch in the energy, fulness of 
tone, and harmony of its notes. And it is cer- 
tainly complimentary to the discernment of our 
race in this instance, that the merits of this bird 
seem to have been duly appreciated, for there is 
hardly a spot on this wide earth, where civiliza- 
tion has entered, but you will find domesticated 
this sweet little vocalist. Originally, a native of 
the Canary Islands (as its name imports) it was 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 55 

introduced into Europe about the beginning of 
the sixteenth century; it is now almost found 
everywhere In the splendid mansion and in 
the humble cottage, its enlivening and delightful 
melody is heard alike in both, and its little wants 
are administered too by the hard, horny hands 
of the artisan in his cot, and the soft and delicate 
tapering fingers of the fair one, in her bower. It 
is loved and cherished in the palace and in the 
hovel ; and in the Azores and some places on the 
Mediterranean, the breeding and rearing of this 
little bird constitute the principal support of 
many of the poor inhabitants. 

Although the climate of New England is not 
the most favorable in the world for this bird, and 
it is affected by the changes of it in a domestic 
state, in common with other animals, there is 
a very erroneous opinion as to the degree of 
warmth necessary for it in the winter. Our rooms 
are kept in general too warm for the health of the 
inmates, and the Canary hangs above, where the 
temperature is several degrees, higher. Indeed, I 
have been told by some, when too late to be 
remedied, that they actually covered over their 
cage with a thick cloth, and hung it over the 
stove as night approached. The consequence 
is, that the poor bird not only suffers, but is 



56 bird-keeper's manual. 

weakened and debilitated, a premature moulting 
ensues, and at last it falls a victim. 

I have kept Canary Birds in some parts of this 
country, where the winters are much colder than 
they are here. One winter I kept thirty or fort)^ 
birds in a room, where there was no fire after 
dark. The thermometer there, would be some- 
times below zero for a week, and the water would 
be frozen solid every morning, yet the whole 
winter I never lost a bird, and they sang sweetly 
every day. Last spring 1 had about thirty 
birds sent me to dispose of, that were kept in an 
attic all winter without having any fire near 
them; they were healthy and strong and sang 
well, and a person who had six of the females 
to breed, assured me that they all had eggs about 
a week after he got them. If you keep your birds 
in a room where there is a stove, place them in 
the coolest part of it, and give them fresh air 
every fine day ; for humanity prompts me to 
say, (however much at variance with my own 
interests,) that of the Canary Birds which I pre- 
serve during the winter, full three-quarters of 
them die from being kept too warm and too near 
the stove. 

The Canary bird seems to be peculiarly adapted 
for a cage bird. They will sing the whole of the 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 57 

winter, during the most dreary part of the year, 
and when other birds are in general silent, they 
will solace and delight us with their animated 
and cheerful song. They are social and familiar, 
and capable of forming strong attachments to 
those who feed them ; they will know the voice 
of their master or mistress; can be taught to sing 
sitting upon the finger, and come and go at com- 
mand. The following account of some of those 
birds, which were exhibited in London some 
years ago, will show that they are capable of 
doing more wonderful things than has yet been 
mentioned, with which, (as 1 shall speak largely 
in a future part of this work, of the breeding, 
treatment of the young, diseases, &c. of this 
delightful bird,) I shall at present conclude. 

In 1820, a Frenchman exhibited four-and- 
twenty Canary birds in London, many of which, 
he said, were from eighteen to twenty-five years 
of age. Some of these balanced themselves with 
their head downwards and tail in the air; one of 
them, taking a slender stick in his claws, passed 
its head between its legs, and suffered itself to be 
turned round as if in the act of being roasted; 
another balanced itself, and was slung backwards 
and forwards, as on a kind of slack rope; a third 
was dressed in military uniform, having a cap on 

4 



58 bird-keeper's manual. 

its head, and wearing a sword and cartridge 
pouch, and holding a fire-lock in one claw. After 
some time sitting upright, this bird, at the word 
of command, freed itself from its dress and flew 
away to the cage. A fourth suffered itself to be 
shot at, and falling down as if dead, to be put 
into a little wheelbarrow and wheeled by one of 
his comrades. Several of the birds were placed 
upon a little fire-work, and continued there quietly 
and without alarm, until it was discharged. 

Food. — It is highly important to know the most 
proper food for this bird, as it is so completely do- 
mesticated, that it will eat almost everything that 
is given to it. Some pamper their bird and destroy 
the tone of its stomach by feeding it with sugar, 
sweet cake, &c, and others withhold from them 
their natural food. I once knew a confectioner 
who killed a fine pair of birds by feeding them 
upon cake. He had all kinds of cake that were 
ever baked, stuck in pieces all round the cage. I 
told him he would kill his birds. He answered, 
" O no, I love to see them eating it." They had 
a short life and a merry one ; they were both 
dead in about a month. I also was once shown 
a pair of Canary Birds that were hanging out at 
a window ; they were owned by an old maiden 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 59 

lady. " The person who pointed them out to me 
was a near neighbor of her's, and kept birds him- 
self, and he assured me that she fed her poor 
birds upon bread and potatoes, and gave as a 
reason to him, that seed cost too much. Some 
give their birds no hemp seed, and others give 
them too much, because they are fond of it. 
Now, as all birds are fond of hemp seed, but 
some may have too much given them, and get 
too fat on it, is that a good and sufficiently sound 
reason that all birds should be kept poor and 
lean and get none ? I have been led to these re- 
marks, as there are some who think they have 
knowledge in this matter, and who condemn the 
use of hemp seed altogether. Now I am satisfied, 
from experience, that hemp seed, if fresh, (and 
attention should be paid to this, as it gets stale 
much sooner than Canary or rape seed,) is a 
nourishing seed, and is highly beneficial if given 
judiciously to Canary Birds, and also many other 
cage birds. I have at present in my possession 
a Red-breasted Thrush or Robin, who eats freely 
of bruised hemp seed every day, and there never 
was a prettier Robin in a cage, and he sings even 
at this season (the autumn) every day. It has 
been advanced, that giving hemp seed to Canary 
Birds will cause them to have the asthma; if it 



60 bird-keeper's manual. 

be so, it cannot be a disease that birds are very 
liable to, for I kept birds when I was eleven years 
of age, and I have always given my Canaries a 
portion of hemp seed. I do not believe I ever had 
more than half a dozen of asthmatical birds in 
my life ; and when I had one. I always found it 
to be a pretty old bird. 

I feed my Canary Birds on a mixture of two 
thirds Canary and one third hemp seed, with 
occasionally a little rape seed in it. In moult- 
ing time I give them freely of rape seed, with 
occasionally a bit of baker's bread dipt in sweet 
milk. I give them freely of lettuce, in sum- 
mer, and cabbage or Savoy blades in autumn 
and winter. I believe that these are the best 
vegetables that can be given to Canary Birds, 
and superior to chickweed, plantain, or any of 
those weeds which grow (as vegetation is so rapid 
with us) very rank and strong, especially such 
as grow in the shade, and do not have the vivi- 
fying heat of the sun to ripen them, and which, 
instead of being beneficial are very pernicious. 
A bit of apple is not hurtful, but sugar, figs, sweet 
cake, pound cake, and such things, only tend to 
hurt the stomach of the bird, and give it a dis- 
taste for its natural food. The fact is, that Ca- 
nary Birds are like children, the simpler and 



EUROPEAN FINCHES. 61 

most natural their food is, the better they will 
thrive. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — There is such 
a diversity of color among these birds that it 
is sometimes not easy to distinguish the male 
from the female. There are, however, general 
characteristics given. The head of the male is 
rather larger and longer, the eye fuller, and the 
neck and legs a little longer. The carriage of the 
male is different, being more upright. This last 
I consider the best criterion, but the person must 
be a close observer that picks out a male in this 
way, and be accustomed to see a good many 
birds. The best and surest test is the singing ; a 
bird, if good for anything, will sing in the spring, 
especially if there is a female in the room with 
him that he can see or hear. The young males 
may be picked out, when six or eight weeks old, 
by the swelling of their throats when warbling 
over their notes. 

Location. — Found domesticated throughout 
the world. In the Canary Islands, Africa — Resi- 
dent. 



62 bird-keeper's manual. 



GROSSBEAKS. 



CARDINAL GROSSBEAK. 

The Cardinal Grossbeak, with his bright black 
and red plumage, and fine pointed crest, is really 
a splendid bird. His fame for beauty and song 
hath reached across the Atlantic, and in Europe 
he is much prized, and named the Virginia Night- 
ingale, from the resemblance his notes bear to 
the notes of that bird, and which is said by 
judges, to be but little inferior. He is a sprightly 
and active bird, has a fine figure, and a clear 
voice, and a good deal of variety in his note. 
They are clean in the cage, feeding principally 
upon seeds, which makes them, altogether, very 
desirable cage birds, and great favorites with 
those who possess them. The female of this 
bird sings also a low but sweet note. 

They are a hardy and easily kept bird, and 
will live a long time in a cage. There was a 
preserved specimen in Peale's Museum some 
years ago, which, it was said, lived twenty-one 
years in the cage. 



GROSSBEAKS. 63 

Food. — I have kept them in good health and 
song, upon Canary, two-thirds, and hempseed 
one-third, and a bit of beef, say twice a week, 
scraped as for the Mocking Bird. I have had 
them in full song in the middle of winter. They 
require plenty of gravel, and water to wash with, 
which should never be omitted for any bird. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male is 
of a fine red. brighter towards the head; under 
the bill and sides of the head black, a fine large 
pointed crest, which it can lower or erect at plea- 
sure. On the female the crest is smaller, and not 
so often raised ; where the male is black she is 
of a chestnut brown. The body is of a drab 
color, except the wings and the tail, which are 
nearly as red as the male. 

Location. — Found throughout the Southern 
and Western States. To the south of Maryland 

■ — Resident. 



ROSE-BREASTED GROSSBEAK. 

This is another elegant bird, of the same spe- 
cies, and likewise a charming songster. I think 



64 bird-keeper's manual. 

it is probable that this bird is originally from the 
far West, and is now gradually spreading over 
the country, as I believe the first that was seen 
in Massachusetts was caught in a net set for 
wild pigeons, in company with them, not many 
years ago. It is still a rare bird here, although 
sometimes seen. A gentleman, who resides in the 
vicinity of Boston, told me, last summer, he saw 
a pair near his house, and he hoped they would 
breed somewhere on his premises. It is said to 
choose the most secluded parts of the forest to 
breed, and where the foliage is densest and thick- 
est. It sings in the night, and has a clear, mel- 
low and harmonious note. The female has no 
song. 

Food. — I have kept several of these birds, and 
as they naturally incline to take but little exercise 
in a cage they must not be over fed, as they are 
apt to get too corpulent and fat. I have found the 
best food for them is Canary and rape seed, with 
occasionally a bit of bread, dipped in milk, and 
a little scraped beef, gravel, and water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the whole of upper parts black, 
with two stripes of pure white on the wings ; the 



GROSSBEAKS. 65 

lower parts a beautiful carmine, or rose color. 
The female's upper parts a light drab; the lower 
parts a light flaxen yellow; the white on the 
wing less than on the male. 

Location. — Found probably throughout the 
United States ; not numerous. Migrates south 
in winter. 



BLUE GROSSBEAK. 

The Blue Grossbeak is another beautiful bird 
of this class. It inhabits Guiana, and perhaps 
further south, and is rather rare, even in the 
Southern States. It is but seldom that we see 
them in Massachusetts. About half a dozen, 
however, were brought to Boston last summer, 
with some Nonpareils, or Painted Buntings, from 
Louisiana. They are active and lively birds, 
and generally keep their plumage neat and 
smooth. Their song is very sweet and musical, 
but much feebler, than any of the forementioned 
birds. 

Food. — Feed them the same as the Cardinal 
Grossbeak. 



66 bird-keeper's manual. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male is 
wholly of a purple blue, skirted with black. 
The female of a dark drab color, tinged with 
blue. 

Location. — Found throughout the Southern 
States. Not numerous. Migrates south in win- 
ter. 



PINE GROSSBEAK. 

This is one of the bright and beautiful birds 
who visit us, not from the sunny lands of the 
South, but from the frozen regions of the North. 
And the modest and unassuming visitant is con- 
tent with humble fare, as we would suppose, but 
which to him no doubt, is a feast. Take a walk 
some bright sunny, winter day, when the ground 
is covered with snow, glittering like diamonds 
under your feet, to some of the rocky and barren 
spots in the vicinity of Boston, where there are 
stunted pines growing, with great bunches of 
cones on the top of them, and there you will see 
the unsuspicious stranger at work. You may 
walk right up to the tree, for he is not at all 
afraid of you. He may, perchance, turn his 



GROSSBEAKS. 67 

bright eye down towards yon, which seems to 
say, " Let me alone, I am doing very well, don't 
interrupt me ;" while he is tearing the cones to 
pieces, and dexterously nipping the seeds off the 
scales, making them fly, like a little cloud, all 
around him ; while his beautiful red and yellow 
plumage, contrasted with the lovely evergreen on 
which he is perched, and the white underground, 
cannot but excite your admiration; and you will 
gaze on him with delight, as I have often done. 
This bird is easily caught, and very soon tamed. 
It may be kept in a cage, and sings a very sweet 
note. It visits the North of Europe, also. When 
kept some time in a cage, it is said to sing in the 
night. 

Food. — It is a hardy bird, and will live upon 
almost any kind of seeds. It may be kept on 
Canary, and a little hemp seed, gravel, and water 
to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 
the head, neck, breast, and rump, of a bright 
vermilion. The back and wings are of a black- 
ish brown. The female is of a grayish green 
color. These birds, like all northern birds, are 
subject to changes of color; the red changing to 
yellow, and the yellow to brown. 



68 bird-keeper's manual. 

Location. — Found throughout the Northern 
and Middle States, in winter. Breeds farther 
north. Found, also, in Northern Europe. 



COMMON CROSSBILL. 

This remarkable bird being once seen, the 
most superficial observer can never afterwards 
be mistaken, as to the genus to which it belongs. 
The upper and lower mandibles of the bill cross 
one another about one-third from the tip. Show- 
ing a preserved specimen of this bird to an honest 
Hibernian one day, after examining it all over, 
and trying to straighten the bill, he exclaimed, 
11 Sure that bird must have died of a lock-jaw." 
He is a visitant from the north, like the former, 
and, although a smaller bird, he probably does as 
much execution among the pine cones, with his 
powerful lever bill, as the other. He is equally 
unsuspicious, and you may walk close up, and 
look at him at work, clinging to the cones like a 
Parrot, or Woodpecker, sometimes head up, and 
sometimes down, but, like the other, giving evi- 
dence of his work by the husks which are flying 
around him. In a cage they are very amusing 



BALTIMORE ORIOLE. * 69 

birds, clinging round the wires like a parrot, and 
in a short time may be made so tame as to be 
carried anywhere on the finger. The male has 
a pleasant note, which is improved by his being 
kept in a cage. There is another of this genus, 
found in America, the White Winged Crossbill, 
but it is rarely found in the New England States, 
and is no songster. 

Food. — Feed them on the same food as the 
Pine Grossbeaks. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male 
and female, in plumage, nearly the same as the 
Pine Grossbeak. 

Location. — Found throughout the Northern 
States, in winter. Also, in the North of Europe, 
there Resident. 



BALTIMORE ORIOLE. 



This bird is beautiful in plumage, displays a 
great deal of ingenuity and skill in building his nest, 
and is likewise a good musical performer. And 
although merit is not always rewarded, it would 



70 bird-keeper's manual. 

appear that his has not altogether been overlook- 
ed. At least, it would seem that he has attracted 
a good deal of attention, from the number of ap- 
pellations given him. He is named the Golden 
Robin, Goldfinch, Fire Bird, Fiery Hang Bird, &c. 
The last name intimating that he frames a pen- 
sile nest, which he suspends from the extreme 
branches of some high elm, weeping willow, or 
an apple tree, in the orchard. The name he 
now retains, it is said, is derived from the colors 
of his plumage, being orange and black; and 
that being the color of the arms and livery of 
Lord Baltimore, to whom Maryland, when a 
Colony, was granted, the bird being, perhaps, 
pretty often seen there at that time. Besides 
its beauty, there is no bird, perhaps, so do- 
cile, and which can be so completely domes- 
ticated as the Baltimore Oriole. A lady from 
the country called upon me one day, who had 
one of these birds she had brought fifty miles 
in the cars with her; it was a very beauti- 
ful one ; it nestled in her dress, and when 
told would sit on her finger, and eat from her 
mouth. She said it never attempted to go away 
from her, it was so attached to her ; of course the 
attachment was reciprocal. I kept one for some 
time, it hung in a room where we eat. On 



ORCHARD ORIOLE. 71 

coming in to my meals, I would open its cage 
door, and calling it, it would perch on my finger, 
and taking it to the table it would take breakfast 
or dinner with me. It would hop round the 
table, help itself to bread and butter, and sip tea 
out of the saucer ; and after tasting of all that 
was on the table, it would sit quietly near me, 
until I put it into its cage again, when it would 
give me its thanks, in all the little notes it could 
muster. t 

There is another bird of this class, named the 
Orchard Oriole, which has caused much confu- 
sion among naturalists, being confounded with 
the above species ; they are closely allied, but 
there is no doubt they are distinct. The male 
is not near so beautiful a bird as the male of 
the Baltimore, and, what is rather remarkable, 
although found from Connecticut to Texas, they 
are not found in Maine or Massachusetts. 

Food. — I feed them on meal and milk, with, 
twice a week, a little beef, and hemp seed, bruised 
in a mortar, and put in a box in the cage, so as 
they can eat it when they please. When kept 
in the house they probably do as well by getting 
a little, as the saying is, of everything that is 
going; a little cooked or raw meat, potatoes 



72 bird-keeper's manual. 

bread, &c. It is generally supposed that they 
cannot be kept in the winter. This is a mistake ; 
a young lady had one from me more than three 
years ago ; I saw it lately, and it was in good 
health, and in fine plumage. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the head, throat, back, and wings, 
black. The rump, pretty high up on the back, 
and lower parts, a bright orange ; a band of the 
same across the back, and the orange brightens 
into vermilion on the breast. The female, where 
the male is black, is a yellowish brown, lower 
parts a dull brownish yellow. 

Location. ■ — Found throughout the United 
States, in summer. Migrates south in the au- 
tumn. 



SCARLET TANAGER. 

This is one of the most gaudily dressed of 
our birds who visits us regularly from southern 
climes, for the purpose of incubation ; and when 
seen flitting through some of our fine green trees, 
with his bright scarlet body, and jet black wings 



SCARLET TANAGER. 73 

and tail, his appearance is truly splendid. His 
sojourn with us is but short ; he arrives here in 
May, and departs again about the latter end of 
August. His common call sounds like, chip 
churr, the last syllable dwelt upon ; he has. be- 
sides, a fine mellow note. They begin to moult 
before they leave us. The male then has a very 
curious appearance; the young feathers come out 
green, consequently he is all spotted over scarlet 
and green. Probably like the American Gold- 
finch, and others, he has two suits, and on leaving 
us puts off his scarlet, and dons the green. 

Food. — The food I have found most agreeable 
to these birds is grated stale bread, egg and 
bruised hempseed, the same as forthe Sky Lark, 
with the addition of fruit, berries and cherries in 
the summer, and in the winter apple and black 
currants. They must be fed sparingly, as they 
take but little exercise in the cage, and are apt to 
get too corpulent. The only way I know to 
guard against this is to give them plenty of fruit, 
and less of solids. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male in 
full plumage, is of a bright scarlet, the wings and 
tail jet black. The female has the upper parts 
5 



74 BIRD-KEEPER S MANUAL. 

of a dusky green, the lower parts of a dull yel- 
low, and the wings brown. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States. Not numerous in New England — Mi- 
gratory. 



SUMMER RED BIRD. 

This bird is about the size of the Scarlet Ta- 
nager, but the male is a bright vermilion, all 
over. The males are subject to the same changes 
of color as the former, having been found spotted 
all over with green, red and yellow, according to 
their age. Their stay here is very short. They 
hatch their young about the middle of June, and 
leave New Jersey about the middle of August. 
They are not found in Massachusetts. Their 
beauty is their most attractive quality ; the song 
is a loud, sonorous trilling note. 

Food. — Treatment and food the same as for 
the Scarlet Tanager. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male is 
a bright vermilion all over, except the inner webs 



PURPLE ORAKLE. 75 

' of the primary, or longest feathers of the wings, 
which are brown ; this is not seen, of course, 
when the wings are closed. The female has the 
upper parts of a brownish yellow, the lower parts 
an orange yellow. 

Location. — Found from New York to Texas, 
in the Middle States rather rare ; not found in 
any of the New England States — Migratory. 



PURPLE GRAKLE, OR CROW BLACK BIRD. 

This bird is rather longer than the European 
Black Bird, but not so robust. They are very 
social birds, building their nests in companies, on 
the highest of our trees, from the tops of which 
the males will pour forth some loud and musical 
notes, in concert, which, at a little distance, have 
a very pleasing effect. After breeding they as- 
semble in flocks, and do some damage to the 
farmer, among the Indian corn, while in its 
seculent, or milky state; but for which they 
compensate him in the spring, by the multitude 
of worms, grubs, and caterpillars they destroy, 
which would soon, if it was not for the farmer's 



76 eird-keeper's manual. 

best friends, the birds, devour the fruits of his 
orchards, as well as his fields. The Purple 
Grakle is very docile; even an old bird, after 
being caught, is easily tamed, and soon becomes 
very familiar. They sing well in a cage, will 
imitate the notes of other birds, and have been 
taiiffht to articulate words. 

Food. — These birds are hardy, and easily 
kept ; they will almost eat anything that is given 
to them ; but will thrive well on meal and milk, 
and a bit of meat, either raw or cooked. Gravel 
in the cage, and plenty of water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird is black, with beautiful blue, green, and 
purple reflexions. The female has the upper 
parts dark brown, the lower parts duller and 
paler. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States, in summer. In the Southern States — 
Resident. 



RUSTY GRAKLE. 77 



RUSTY GRAKLE. 

This is another of our Black Birds, which is a 
winter visitant, breeding far to the northward of 
us. They visit us in the autumn, in small flocks, 
keeping company with the Red Winged Starling 
and Cowpen Finches, on our meadows, and on 
the approach of winter they move further south 
with those birds. I have had them in my pos- 
session, but have not as yet kept them long 
enough to test their singing properties in a cage. 
They are nearly silent while with us, having 
only a single note; but in the countries where 
they breed they are said to sing very sweetly. 
They are docile, and apt to learn, and soon be- 
come very tame and familiar, like the former. 
Rather smaller in size than the Purple Grakle, it 
is clean and handsome in shape, and I have no 
doubt may become an excellent cage bird. 

Food. — It is a hardy bird, and may easily be 
kept on the same food as the Purple Grakle, or 
the Red Winged Starling. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird is black, with beautiful green reflex- 



78 bird-keeper's manual. 

ions. The female has the upper parts brown, 
the lower parts of an ash color, and is smaller 
in size. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States, in autumn and winter. In the spring, 
migrates north. 



EUROPEAN WARBLERS. 



NIGHTINGALE. 

This bird has been celebrated for its musical 
powers, almost from time immemorial. Poets 
have sung its praises, and historians have re- 
corded its merits; and it is figured on the pages 
(not greatly to advantage however) of the im- 
mortal Shakspeare himself. 

Of its merits or demerits as a songster, or 
whether the great bard was as good a judge of 
birds as he was of men, it behooveth us not to 
speak. We are sorry to say we never had the 
pleasure of listening to his delightful strains, either 



EUROPEAN WARBLERS. 79 

by night or day, as it never honors that part of 
North Britain, which gave us birth, with its com- 
pany. It is not found in Scotland, or Ireland, or 
Wales, and indeed it is only in some parts of 
England that it will condescend to reside. It is 
also found in Sweden and Russia. 

As it will not visit us, we have tried very hard 
to bring it, but have not as yet succeeded; it is 
rather a delicate bird and requires care and atten- 
tion to keep it. A friend, who has brought many 
birds across the Atlantic, left Liverpool the latter 
part of last summer with three of these birds, in 
one of the Boston steam packets, but they all died 
on the passage ; the last, two days before he ar- 
rived in Boston.^ 

Food. — The following are the German and 
English methods of feeding this bird : 

* Since writing the above, I am happy to say, that a gentleman in 
this city, who has in his possession a few of the best American and 
foreign songsters, and who devotes some of his leisure hours to the 
agreeable recreation and rational amusement of studying their habits 
and attending to their little wants, has succeeded in getting two 
Nightingales (which he sent for) from Germany safe and sound. 
They appear to be in good health, and I sincerely hope he will be re- 
paid for the care and attention he bestows upon them, by listening 
to their delightful music in the spring. 



80 bird-keeper's manual. 

German. — The best food is ants' eggs, to which 
are daily added two or three meal worms ; when 
none of the former remain, they must be supplied 
by dried, or rather roasted, ox heart and raw car- 
rot, both grated and then mixed with dried ants' 
eggs. A little lean beef or mutton may be used 
sometimes.* 

English. — White bread soaked in boiled milk, 
mashed into a paste, with ground hemp seed 
scalded, and meal-worms once or twice a day, 
and a small quantity of the hard-boiled yolk of 
an egg, or bread and milk, meal-worms, or ants' 
eggs, or maggots, with boiled vegetables and 
pudding, of which they are very fond.f 

American. — The Nightingales now in Boston 
are fed upon Indian meal and milk, meal-worms 
and ants' eggs, and are doing well. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The Nightin- 
gale is scarcely as large as a common sized Canary 
bird, and of plain and homely colored plumage. 
The male has the upper parts of a yellowish brown, 
reddish towards the head ; the primaries or main 
feathers of the wings are darker, and towards the 
tail a chestnut color ; the lower parts, on the throat 

* Bechstein, 

t Timbs's Manual of Cage Birds. 



EUROPEAN WARELERS. 81 

and breast, are grayish white, almost pure white 
towards the vent; at the tail yellowish white. 
The female is smaller in size, but similar in 
plumage, and is only known (it is said) by the 
general characteristics, not standing so upright 
as the male, having a smaller eye, &c. 

Location. — This bird takes a most extensive 
range, and is said to be found in Europe, Asia, 
and Africa, and in them all Resident. 



BLACK CAP. 

This bird is about the same size, and closely 
allied to the Nightingale, although placed by 
naturalists in a different genera. It does not re- 
quire that care and attention, nor the variety of 
food which the Nightingale does; and by many 
the notes of the Black Cap are thought fully 
equal, and by some superior, to the Nightingale. 
We have never had the pleasure of keeping this 
bird. Until within a few years it was was very 
rare in Scotland ; it is now more common, and 
is more equally distributed through England. 
Formerly, it was only found in particular dis- 



82 bird-keeper's manual. 

tricts. In Germany it is named the Monk, from 
its black cap.^ The notes of this bird are similar 
to the Nightingale ; it also sings in the night. 
The female sings in strains, it is said, resembling 
the song of the Robin Red Breast. 

Food. — It is recommended to feed this bird 
the same as the Robin Red Breast ; and I have 
no doubt it might be kept well on the same food 
as the American Mocking Bird. It eats of wild 
berries freely. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the upper parts of a bluish gray, the 
top and back of the head, down as far as the 
eyes, jet black ; the lower parts are of grayish 
white. The female has head (where black on 
the male,) of a yellowish brown, the under parts 
are of a brownish white. 

Location. — The range of this species seems to 
be fully as extensive as the other preserved spe- 
cimens, having been sent from Japan and Java.f 
It is found in Norway and Lapland, in the Azores, 
and in Madeira. In Europe it is migratory. 

* Bechstein. t Naturalist's Library. 



EUROPEAN WARBLERS. 83 



ROBIN RED BREAST. 

This pretty little bird has been rendered famous 
in story by figuring conspicuously in a pathetic 
nursery tale, well known in the land of our fore- 
fathers, to every child that is able to master its 
first reading lesson, The Babes of the Wood. 
Well do we remember how we sympathized with 
the poor babes, left all alone in the woods ; and 
how the tears started into our eyes while we read 
that at last they laid them down to die, in each 
other's arms. And how we did love the little 
Robin Red Breast who covered them over with 
leaves, and then sweetly sang their funeral dirge. 
How susceptible the youthful mind is of early 
impressions, especially when the finer feelings of 
our nature are touched; neither time nor space 
can obliterate them, and they cling fondly to 
memory until the last. The Robin Red Breast 
is remarkable for his familiarity ; he will not 
only fearlessly approach the cottage door to pick 
the crumbs, but in the winter he will take up 
his quarters inside, having his particular roost 
or place to sit, to which he will come regularly 
every night. These birds seem to have an innate 
attachment to the society of man ; for although 



84 bird-keeper's manual. 

they are solitary birds, breeding only in pairs, 
sometimes in the most secluded portions of the 
woods, yet a woodcutter, or other person, will 
not be at work long in the forest, even the most 
secluded parts of it, without having the company 
of one or a pair of these birds, carefully picking 
up the fragments of their meals, or the insects 
brought to light by their operations. And in the 
breeding season, when birds generally seclude 
themselves, their attachment to man is exempli- 
fied, for they will breed anywhere near him. 
Under the eaves of the barn, in a hole in the 
wall, in the cowhouse, or the greenhouse, they 
will build their nest, and unsuspiciously rear 
their brood. Sawpits used to be favorite spots 
with them ; those sawpits built with stones, 
which I suppose are almost obsolete now : there 
they would raise their brood some few feet from 
where the sawyers were at work ; but there they 
were secure, for the workmen would not molest 
them ; and, whether it proceeded from their asso- 
ciation with the above event, or from their ex- 
treme sociability with man, they were generally 
loved and cherished ; and the nest of the Robin 
Red Breast was always spared by the boys. He 
is now kept in cages and aviaries, and is still a 
greater favorite than formerly, not only for his 



EUROPEAN WARBLERS. 85 

pretty plumage and great sociability, but like- 
wise for his song, which, when wild, is delight- 
ful ; but when kept in a cage is very much im- 
proved, and is said, in the spring, to be really 
enchanting. They are very docile, and can 
easily be taught to sing on the finger, and eat 
out of the hand. We hope to have some of these 
pretty little warblers here before long, to answer 
for themselves. 

Food. — Bread and milk is recommended; also 
crumbs of bread, and beef minced fine; and they 
are said to be very fond of cheese. It is also said 
they are subject to diarrhoea. Now I know by 
experience, as I have before stated, that any bird, 
kept constantly upon a diet of bread and milk, 
either raw or boiled, will be subject to that dis- 
ease, more or less. And I have no doubt but our 
yankee fare, meal and milk would agree very 
well with them, as a staple dish. And it is 
probable that those pretty little warblers can be 
kept in good health on the same treatment as our 
Mocking Bird. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male 
has the forehead, sides of the head, and lower 
parts, a fine orange red ; the upper parts of the 



86 bird-keeper's manual. 

body are a brown olive. On the upper part of 
the shoulder there are some yellow spots, which 
are good marks to distinguish the male, as the 
females are destitute of them, exeept when very 
old, and then they are very faint. The female 
is smaller, and the color much duller. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe, in 
Britain — Resident. On the Continent — Migra- 
tory. 



AMERICAN LARKS. 



MEADOW LARK. 

Although this bird has not, as yet, been often 
kept in a cage, I see no reason why it should 
not be ; and when its merits are known there 
is no doubt it will. For although for song it 
will not bear a comparison with the European 
bird, the sky lark, that rises on the wing, and 
with delightful warblings hails the dawning morn, 
yet the male is a beautiful bird, and sings a 
sweet and plaintive note. They frequent our 
pastures and rich meadows, where they build 



AMERICAN LARKS. 87 

their nest, generally in a tussock of grass, and 
during this season, the males will mount to the 
tops of the trees, or bushes near, and serenade 
their mates below, with their fine, long, clear, 
and mellow notes. 

Food. — They are hardy birds, and will live 
in a cage on almost any kinds of seeds. They 
may be kept well on one-third hemp, and two- 
thirds Canary seed ; a bit of beef occasionally, 
plenty of gravel, and water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — These birds 
are larger than our Robin. The male has the 
upper parts of a speckled reddish gray, all the 
lower parts a rich, bright yellow, a streak of 
black on each side of the head, and the breast 
ornamented with an oblong crescent of the same 
color. In the female the black is grayish, and 
the yellow is of a duller, dunnish hue. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States — ■ Migratory. Numbers winter in the 
Southern States. 



88 bird-keeper's manual. 



SHORE LARK. 

This is another beautiful bird of this genus, 
that visits us in winter from the North, where it 
breeds. It is also found in Europe. They fly here 
in flocks, and their call has a resemblance to the 
Sky Lark of Europe ; and in some parts of the 
Union they are named the Sky Lark, and in 
others the Shore Lark. In the countries "where 
they breed they are said to mount in the air (like 
the European species) and sing sweetly. Last 
spring I had a female that was wing-tipped; I 
put it in a large cage, with some Canary Birds. 
At first, when any of them would approach it, it 
would open its mouth to the utmost extent to 
frighten them away, I supposed, but it never 
offered to attack any of them, nor they it. I 
have no doubt but the males would sing in a 
cage. I heard nothing from this but the call : 
but, being a female, of course I could not expect 
it to sing. It was very fond of dusting itself, like 
all the rest of the genus ; and when I put a ves- 
sel, with gravel, in the cage, it would jump into 
it and make it fly all around, and seemed quite 
delighted. 

Food. — It eat of all the seeds in the cage. I 



AMERICAN LARKS. 89 

bruised some hemp seed for it, and gave it occa- 
sionally a bit of bread. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the forehead, throat, sides of neck, 
and a line over the eye, of a fine straw yellow ; 
back of the head and neck black, which bounds 
the yellow all round the back, a reddish drab 
color ; lower parts reddish white. The female 
has little or no black on the head, and all the 
colors are paler and dingy. The male has a few 
long black feathers above the eyebrows, which it 
can erect at pleasure, which look like little horns, 
like those of some of the Owl tribe. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States, in winter. Migrates north in the spring. 
Found also in the North of Europe. 



BROWN LARK. 

This bird is rather smaller than the last men- 
tioned, and is likewise a winter visitant. They 
visit us in the autumn, and fly in small flocks 
about our meadows and ploughed fields. Al- 
6 



90 bird-keeper's manual. 

though almost silent while here, having only a 
single note, there is no doubt but they sing in the 
countries where they breed, as those of our win- 
ter visitants, who have been seen there, in their 
breeding season, are said to sing sweetly. I 
have not yet been able to procure a live speci- 
men, to try its singing qualities in the cage. 
In the Western States, where numbers of them 
winter, they are named the Prairie Tit Lark. 

Food. — They may be fed the same as the 
Meadow Lark. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 
the upper parts of a brown olive color; the breast 
and lower parts are a light yellowish brown, 
spotted with black ; the spots most numerous on 
the breast. The female bears a strong resem- 
blance to the male ; the only difference, the colors 
are duller on the female. 

Location. — Found in winter in the New En- 
gland States ; many of them winter in the West- 
ern States. Breeds in the Fur Countries. 



EUROPEAN LARKS. 91 



EUROPEAN LARKS. 



SKY LARK. 

It is a bright spot to look back upon, in the 
sunny days of our youth, when in the fields, on 
a fine summer morning, we listened to this de- 
lightful warbler, and gazed upon him in his up- 
ward flight, until lost to our view. We could 
still hear him, though faintly, and still gaze up, 
and wonder how high he would go, until again 
he would come into view descending, and carrol- 
ling his joyful lay all the while; and on coming 
near he would stop singing, and shutting his 
wings would descend rapidly to the earth, in 
a slanting direction. The song of the Sky Lark 
is one continued strain of cheerful warbling notes, 
sometimes uttered high, and sometimes low. He 
enlivens the labors of the husbandman, is the 
theme of the poet, and in all illustrations of rural 
scenery he stands prominent. 

These delightful warblers will sing well in a 
cage, which should be eighteen inches long, at 
least to give them room to run. At one end of 



92 bird-keeper's manual. 

it keep a box, two inches deep, and six or seven 
inches square, filled with dry sand, or fine gravel, 
to dust themselves in ; of this, like the Shore Lark, 
they are very fond. At the end, a piece of green 
turf; this is very necessary, and should be re- 
newed once a week, if convenient. Those who 
keep this bird should have turf cut in the fall, 
and kept in the cellar for winter use. He is 
delighted with every new one he gets; he will eat 
the grass off of it, and then stand on it and sing. 
The cage should not be put high up in the room ; 
they are a very timid bird, and apt to fly sud- 
denly up when you open the cage door to feed 
them, which is disagreeable ; and the bird may 
get injured against the top of the cage. To get 
them tame, and keep them so, it is better to hang 
the cage about the height of your breast. I have 
known tame birds get quite wild when put up 
near the roof. If your bird flies about too much, 
and is afraid of you, hang a cloth over the cage ; 
they do not in general spring up, except when 
you open the cage door. If a bird continues 
doing so, it may be necessary to stretch a piece 
of cotton cloth, as a roof to the cage, and then if 
it does, it will not hurt itself. 

Food. — I have kept these birds, without difii- 



EUROPEAN LARKS. 93 

culty, in good health and song, on stale bread, 
but not sour, grated up and mixed with a small 
portion of hard boiled egg, adding occasionally 
a bit of lettuce or cabbage, and a bit of beef 
minced fine. I always kept a box, with some 
hemp seed bruised in a mortar, to eat when he 
wished. Keep plenty of gravel in the bottom of 
the cage ; they do not wash much. I have seen 
them dip their head in the water, and no more. 
The box of sand is their bathing tub. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The upper 
parts of the male are yellowish brown , the lower 
parts dusky yellow, with lengthened spots of 
black on the breast, a whitish ring round the eye. 
The female is smaller in size, destitute of the 
white ring round the eye, has more spots on the 
breast, and some on the back, and the breast is 
much whiter. The feathers on the crown of the 
male are partly elongated, and can be raised in a 
crest, at will. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe. Par- 
tially migratory. 



94 bird-keeper's manual. 



THE WOOD LARK. 

This bird bears some resemblance to the Sky 
Lark, but it is smaller in size. It is said to be 
superior in the melody and rich tone of its song 
to the other, but inferior in variety and compass 
of voice. Of this we cannot speak from expe- 
rience, as we have never heard one, or seen a 
specimen. In Scotland it is scarcely ever seen ; 
indeed, in England, it is only found at times in 
some particular counties, and lately some few 
have been seen in Ireland. In Britain it is a 
very rare bird, but it is found in greater numbers 
on the Continent ; and as it may yet be brought 
here we will tell all we can learn about it. In 
its habits it differs; it is what is called arbo- 
real. It perches upon trees, on which it will sit 
and sing ; also, it sings on the wing, like the 
other, but it does not rise perpendicular, but sails 
round in circles, and when it attains to a great 
height, it will remain stationary and sing, it is 
said, for hours together, in the same manner as 
when perched on a tree. 

Food. — The same as the Sky Lark, and like- 
wise the cage. 



RICE-BIRD, OR BOBOLINK. 95 

Characteristics of the Sexes. ■ — The upper 
parts of the male are rather darker than the Sky 
Lark, being a brownish black ; the lower parts 
straw yellow; the streak round the eye brighter, 
the feathers on the crown, which it forms into a 
crest, are longer. The female is more spotted, 
and the yellow almost white, like the female of 
the Sky Lark. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe. Not 
numerous. Partially migratory. 



RICE BIRD, OR BOBOLINK. 

This is the Rice Bird of the Southern States, 
the Reed Bird of Pennsylvania, and the Bobolink 
of the New England States, and is about as well 
known in New England as the Robin Red-Breast 
is in Old England. His note is highly musical, 
and the rapidity with which it is uttered makes 
it lively and cheering. To me it is charming; I 
think there is something woodland-wild about it 
that no other bird's note possesses except the 
English Sky Lark; and in the spring of the year, 
when descending from the top of some tall tree to 



96 bird-keeper's manual. 

the green grass below, warbling its delightful 
notes in the descent, it always reminds me of 
that bird. The note of this bird has been trans- 
lated by the ingenious and much esteemed natu- 
ralist, Nuttall, as follows : 

Bobolink, Bobolink, Tom Denny, Tom Denny, Pay me 
the five Pounds you borrowed of me more than a y-e-a-r-a-go. 

I have before stated that a close observer of 
birds can discern a difference in their notes, even 
of the same species. During my residence in 
the country, some years ago, there was one of 
these birds which had its nest in a field of grass 
of about an acre, adjoining the house of my next 
neighbor. This bird had a very peculiar note, 
different, I think, from any I have ever heard ; 
and, although surrounded with these birds, which 
had their nests in the adjacent meadows, besides 
having them in cages in the house, all of which 
were singing, I could always tell when this bird 
sang ; and the inmates of my family also would 

say, when they heard it, — " There is Mr. ? s 

Bobolink singing." This bird, being undisturbed, 
raised its brood before the grass was cut, and dis- 
persed over the fields with its young, and the rest 
of its species. And it is a remarkable fact, that 
the next season a bird, having the same note, 



RICE BIRD, OR BOBOLINK. 97 

came back to the same little field again ; there 
was no mistaking the note; if not the same bird, 
it must have been one of his descendants who 
inherited the father's voice exactly. That birds 
form attachment to their old locations, and will 
come back to them, there is no doubt ; and I be- 
lieve in this instance, that this was the same 
identical bird that had come thousands of miles, 
and passed over many lakes and rivers, and 
many a field of grass, to the old spot where it 
had been so happy the season before, again to 
raise another family. 

In the month of July, the male of this bird 
(the plumage of which is white and black) be- 
gins gradually to change in color, and about the 
end of August the plumage is like the female and 
young, yellow, streaked with brown; but I have 
now in my possession four Rice Birds, or Bobo- 
links, who have not yet changed the color of 
a feather. # They are in beautiful plumage, the 
same as in the spring; not a shade lighter, and 
sing every fine day. Their not changing is 
very remarkable. I have kept these birds for 
many years, and I never knew an instance of 
the kind before. 

* Dec. 25. 



98 bird-keeper's manual. 

Food. — They are clean birds, and easily kept 
in a cage ; but the cage, to keep the bird well, 
should be at least eighteen inches long, and the 
roosts, or perches, placed as far. apart as pos- 
sible, to enable the bird to exercise its wings in 
leaping from one roost to the other. I have found 
this beneficial to them, and it induces them to take 
more exercise in the cage. Feed them with 
Canary seed alone, as they are much inclined to 
obesity, and often die of something like apo- 
plexy. I never could get them to eat of vegeta- 
bles ; sometimes they will eat a bit of apple, but 
in general they eat nothing but their seed. A 
bird that is kept for some time in a cage might 
be induced to eat of green stuffs ; if it did, it would 
be highly beneficial to it in a domestic state. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
the second season is easily distinguished from 
the female ; in the spring it is black, with a broad 
band of dark yellow across the hind neck, the 
feathers on the back tipped with gray, brighten- 
ing into white at the wing. The female has the 
upper parts light yellowish brown, streaked with 
blackish brown; lower parts, a light grayish 
yellow. 



RED-WINGED STARLING. 99 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States in summer ; late in the autumn, they mi- 
grate south. 



-*-♦- 



RED-WINGED STARLING. 

These birds are very numerous in the United 
States, and congregate in large flocks in the 
spring and fall. And although they generally 
migrate farther south, large numbers of them 
winter in the Southern States, where, gleaning 
among the stubble of the old rice and corn fields, 
they find abundance of food for the winter. 
Very early in the spring they come to us in 
flocks, (the males first, as is generally the case 
with migratory birds,) and in the neighborhood 
of some pond, creek, or swampy meadow, they 
may be seen in large bodies, performing their 
aerial evolutions. At times they will all alight 
on one or more leafless trees, covering them from 
top to bottom. The contrast of their jet black 
plumage, and scarlet shoulders, makes the ap- 
pearance of the trees, then, strikingly beautiful ; 
while the combined notes of half a thousand or 
more of them, wafted on the breeze, at some dis- 



100 bird-keeper's manual. 

tance off, is indeed one of nature's own sweet 
concerts, to which I have often listened with de- 
light. They are very amusing birds in a cage, 
throwing themselves into all kinds of attitudes, 
and trying to imitate all they hear. There was 
one kept for some time in Quincy Market, near 
the poultry stalls, where, sometimes, the fowls 
are left alive, in cribs. This bird showed him- 
self an apt scholar, and imitated perfectly the 
crowing of a cock, which attracted a good deal 
of attention. This bird is classed by the late 
lamented Alexander Wilson, as a Stare, or Star- 
ling, (the opinion of some high authorities to the 
contrary, notwithstanding.) That this close ob- 
server of nature, and self-taught genius, was 
right in this, (as he was in almost every thing he 
advanced,) I had sufficient proof, last summer, to 
convince the most skeptical. I had two young 
Red Winged Starlings, and an old English Star- 
ling, in two cages, beside each other. The Red 
Wings, in their gait and attitudes, in their man- 
ner of eating the same food, in the tone of their 
voice, their imitative powers, and even the color 
of their plumage, were fac-similes of their great 
type, the old English Starling; and some of 
their notes bearing a resemblance like his to the 
articulation of syllables, I have no doubt they 



RED-WINGED STARLING. 101 

might be taught sentences like him. Their natu- 
ral notes are few, but very musical, and their 
common call, Co?ik-er-ree : the last syllable dwelt 
upon, is very pleasing. 

Food. — They are a hardy bird, and in a cage 
they will eat almost anything you give them. I 
feed them on meal and milk, bruised hemp seed, 
and occasionally a bit of beef, cut in small pieces, 
or scraped. Keep plenty of gravel in the bottom 
of the case, and give them water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
the first and second year has the plumage streak- 
ed with brown, the red not being fully developed ; 
the third year he is jet black ; shoulders a bright 
and rich scarlet, bordered with reddish white. 
The female has the upper parts brownish, lower 
parts spotted, or streaked with black and white. 
Young male like the female. Young female 
browner. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States. Migratory. Numbers winter in the 
Southern States. 



102 bird-keeper's manual. 



EUROPEAN STARLING. 

In the winter these birds, like the former, con- 
gregate in large flocks, and perform the same evo- 
lutions in the air; sometimes forming themselves 
into a compact body, and wheeling round all the 
time, but still progressing forward, and changing 
in their flight into many different shapes. 

The Starling is a lively and active bird, always 
gay, and very familiar, and will soon become 
acquainted with all the inmates of the house. 
They can be taught to whistle a tune, or speak 
a sentence very plainly, the male as well as the 
female. Some of my readers will recollect Sterne's 
Starling. " I can't get out," said the Starling. 
But this was only talk with him, for they seem 
to be contented anywhere, and at home every- 
where, provided you give them food to eat, and 
plenty of water to wash; for like the Red-Wings 
they are very fond of bathing. When you wish to 
teach them a tune, or to speak, it is necessary to 
keep them alone, for they will try, exactly like 
the former, to imitate every bird they hear, which 
of course will take off their attention from what 
you are teaching them. Those birds are so re- 
markably docile that an old bird may be taught. 



GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE. 103 

as well as the young. On the Continent of Eu- 
rope, in some places, they put up boxes for these 
birds to breed in, as we do for the Purple Martin. 

Food. — The same as the Red Winged Star- 
lings. Plenty of gravel, and water to bathe in. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. ■ — This bird is 
about the size of our Robin. The male in full 
plumage is of a rich glossy black, beautifully 
lightened with green, blue, and purple reflexions, 
and spotted all over with triangular spots of yel- 
lowish and reddish white. The female has the 
white predominate more, and looks much lighter 
in color. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe, in the 
South. Resident — in the North, migratory. 



GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE, OR BUTCHER BIRD. 

This bird seems to be the connecting link in 
the great chain of animated nature, between the 
birds of prey and the Pies or Jays, having the 
slender legs and weak claws of the Jays, asso- 



104 BIRD-KEEPER'S MANUAL. 

ciated with the strong-hooked bill of the Falcon. 
There is also a resemblance in the habits and 
manner of feeding of the Shrike. By stratagem 
or pursuit he seizes small birds by the throat, 
suffocating them, and then impaling them on 
thorns,^ to be devoured at leisure ; his claws being 
insufficient for either holding or tearing them; 
he also feeds on grasshoppers, and other large 
insects, like the Jay, and impales them in the 
same manner. On the approach of winter, this 
bird visits us (from the mountain forests to the 
north of us, where he breeds,) and is found in 
the vicinity of Boston ; and in the midst of win- 
ter, when hard pressed with hunger, in many 
instances they have darted through panes of 
glass after Canaries and other birds, hung in 
cages inside, and have in general been taken in 
the very act, and some of them have been brought 
to me to see if they were Mocking Birds, as they 
bear some resemblance to that bird. In one 
instance, last winter, there was one who succeed- 
ed in killing the poor Canary Bird before any 
body came to the rescue ; he effected his escape 
through the breach he had made, on the entry of 
an inmate of the house, and without his prey after 
all, which he was in the act of pulling through the 

* From this practice is derived the name of Butcher. 



GREAT AMERICAN SHRIKE. 105 

wires of the cage when interrupted. It is a grace- 
ful and active bird, and the color of its plumage is 
chaste and finely contrasted ; it has also some very 
pleasant warbling notes, will imitate the notes of 
other birds ; the female also sings. They are very 
amusing birds in a cage, and if some sharp sticks, 
made like thorns, are fastened inside of the cage, 
and live mice or insects are put in, they will, after 
killing them, impale them all round on the sticks. 
They have, in Europe, one of the same genus 
very closely allied to this species, but not now 
identified with it. The only difference is a little 
more white on the wing, and its being one inch 
less in length. They are there kept in cages, 
and are great favorites. They are caught by 
placing a bird and cage in a box trap, which is 
so constructed that as soon as he touches the 
cage the trap closes and shuts him up in dark- 
ness, from which he is immediately taken and 
transferred to another cage. 

Food. — This bird, when caught, even when 
old, can be easily used to the cage by giving it live 
mice or insects, and leaving him alone, as at first; 
he will not eat, as long as you stand by. He will 
very soon get tame, and thrive well upon meal 
and milk, and a bit of fresh beef; gravel in the 

7 



106 bird-keeper's manual. 

cage, and plenty of water, as they are fond of 
bathing. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The adult 
male has the whole of the upper parts of a rich 
pearl gray, the lower almost pure white; in 
young birds, mixed with waving lines of grayish ; 
space between the bill and the eye, and surround- 
ing the eye, black ; wings, black ; extremities, 
tipt with white ; a spot of white on the lower part 
of the wing. The female is easily distinguished 
by the upper parts being light reddish brown ; the 
back brownish, and not corning to the bill; the 
lower parts are reddish brown, and the waving 
lines are brownish, and more developed. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States in winter ; breeds to the Northward of 
Massachusetts. 



CEDAR WAXWING. 



We have many birds of bright and gaudy 
colors, but none who have their plumage of a 
more delicate and silky texture than this bird. 



CEDAR WAXWING. 107 

There are, I believe, but three species of this 
genus known to naturalists : The Cedar Wax- 
wing, the subject of this description ; the Bohe- 
mian, or European Chatterer, which was first dis- 
covered in this country on the Rocky Mountains, 
and it is said, has been since seen a little beyond 
the Mississippi, and another species, found in East- 
ern Asia. They have all the fine silky plumage ; 
and the first two, those remarkable oblong append- 
ages at the end of the wing and tail feathers, re- 
sembling red sealing wax, hence their name of 
Waxwing. There are, I believe, none of them mu- 
sical, at least this, the Cedar Waxwing, is not, 
for it is almost a mute, having nothing but a 
single chirp not much louder than a mouse ; 
and how they got the name of Chatterers, is a 
mystery to naturalists. They are voracious birds 
and great eaters, and this the farmer and gar- 
dener sometimes know to their cost, for they are 
very fond of ripe cherries, and are good judges of 
them, and generally select the best. But they 
are entitled to a moiety of the fruit for their pro- 
tection of the trees, for they devour an enormous 
number of insects. I have seen these birds on 
an apple tree continue for hours, eating canker 
worms without intermission. They are, there- 
fore, of incalculable benefit to the agriculturist, 



108 bird-keeper's manual. 

(as indeed all birds are, more or less ; ) and should 
be protected by him. 

Food. — The Cedar Waxwing, as also the Eu- 
ropean Chatterer, are sometimes kept in a cage 
for their beauty ; they may be fed with meal and 
milk, or any kind of berries, or cherries, and in 
the winter, dried berries or black currants ; they 
must be soaked in water to make them soft, so 
that they can swallow them ; they must also have 
beef, cut in very small bits, or scraped, as for the 
Mocking Bird. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — There is no 
distinguishing characteristics of the sexes in the 
plumage of these birds, and it is of no conse- 
quence here, as the song of both, such as it is, is 
alike. 

The upper parts of this bird are of a reddish 
brown, or dark fawn color ; the front of the neck 
lighter, the back browner ; on the head a fine 
crest, which comes up to a sharp point, a line of 
black, as also a line of white, runs from the nos- 
tril to the back of the head ; below, another line 
of white ; lower parts, yellow ; white at the tail ; 
and at the extremities of the secondaries, or short- 
est feathers of the wings, there are sometimes, on 



BLUE JAY. 109 

the whole of them, oblong appendages, resem- 
bling red sealing wax ; sometimes they are also 
seen on the tail. 



Location. — Found, in summer, throughout the 
United States ; in winter, in the southern States. 
Have seen them in the winter in Massachusetts. 



BLUE JAY. 

This elegant and well known bird, in the deli- 
cate coloring and beauty of his plumage, will 
bear a comparison with any of the gaudy colored 
birds of tropical climes, and it probably sur- 
passes many of them in his sprightly and lively 
attitudes. He is also, altogether our own bird, 
and does not leave us, even in the inclement sea- 
son of the year ; for I have found them in the 
very middle of winter, in our large woods, to 
which they resort in extreme cold weather. In 
the autumn they secrete and bury acorns, and 
such hard seeds that they feed on, in divers 
places, it is said, for their winter's hoard. But I 
think it is rather to indulge a propensity which 
is natural to all this class of birds, to hide any- 



110 bird-keeper's manual. 

thing they can find, for they distribute these seeds 
in such a scattering manner that it is not possible 
that they could ever find nine-tenths of them 
again, when the snow is on the ground. I have 
seen one of these birds, with a large acorn in his 
mouth, alight on the top of a gate post, and put 
the acorn in the centre, where the pith was de- 
cayed, and hammer it down with his bill ; so that 
if any of my readers should see a sapling grow- 
ing out of a gate post, which is not uncommon, 
they may conclude that Mr. Jay was the planter. 
I have seen them put them at the root of a bush, 
and in a hollow in the open field, and strike 
them down with their bill in the same manner. 
It is said, and there is no doubt of it, that in this 
manner, and by dropping those seeds in trans- 
portation, those birds plant vast numbers of our 
forest trees. Their antics and attitudes in a cage 
are highly amusing; they are also by no means 
contemptible songsters; some of their high notes 
I will allow, are rather loud, but they have some 
low notes which are very musical. They will 
also imitate the notes of other birds. They are 
also very docile ; they will answer to their name, 
and form a strong attachment to those who keep 
them ; and, it is said, have been taught to articu- 
late words. I kept a pair for sometime in a cage 



BLUE JAY. Ill 

which was built up against the wall of the room, 
which formed one side. Close up to the roof 
they picked a hole through the plastering, and it 
was amusing to see them indulge their favorite 
propensity. The surplus of their food, and every- 
thing else which they did not immediately want, 
they put into this hole. This would not profit 
them much for their winter's hoard, but it might 
be serviceable to the rats or mice, for it went 
down probably to the cellar. 

Food. — They are hardy, and easily kept in a 
cage, and are not at all choice of their food, for 
they will eat almost anything. I kept them in 
fine plumage on meal and milk, and a bit of beef, 
either raw or cooked. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the upper parts of a light purplish 
blue, with a fine large crest on the crown of the 
head ; the wings and tail are barred with black, 
and tipped with white, and are of a beautiful 
purplish blue. There is a band of black round 
the neck, and the lower parts are of a brownish 
white. The female has the crest much smaller; 
the black grayish, and the blue is lighter and 
duller. 



112 bird-keeper's manual. 

Location. — Found throughout the United 
States — Resident. 



THE MAGPIE. 

With the name of this bird are associated sto- 
ries of poor forlorn maidens, who have been 
unjustly accused of pilfering silver spoons, jew- 
elry, &c. ; while our hero, indulging in his natu- 
ral propensity, and great partiality for all glitter- 
ing things, has been the guilty culprit. The 
American bird has been compared and examined 
with the European, and no material difference 
can be discovered. When kept tame, in a family, 
he has the same qualities, and the same prac- 
tices. He will answer to his name, will fol- 
low an inmate of the family all over the house, 
or out of doors; may be taught to articulate 
words, and will carry off everything that glitters 
that he can carry to his hoarding place, which 
has caused sometimes a great deal of trouble. 
Although his colors are but two, there is such a 
contrast, that with his fine long tail he has a very 
elegant appearance, and is so very tame and 
familiar, that he is always a great favorite, whe- 



THE MAGPIE. 113 

ther in a cage, or going at large in the house. 
If he is allowed to range the house, it will be 
well to keep the things he likes so well out of his 
reach, or he may put them where my Blue Jays 
put the surplus of their food, where it may be 
very difficult to find them. 

Food. — Their food, like the Blue Jays, they 
are no wise choice about ; they will eat anything 
that is used in the house. In a cage they thrive 
well on meal and milk, and a bit of meat, cooked 
or raw. Gravel, and water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the head, neck, and upper part of 
the breast, of a deep velvet black ; the inner vanes 
of the large wing feathers, the lower parts of the 
breast and belly, are pure white. The tail, of 
which the two middle feathers are much the 
longest, is most splendidly colored with green, 
blue, and purple reflections, on a glossy jet black. 
The only difference with the female is, that the 
colors are duller and fainter. 

Location. — Found throughout the interior of 
Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, and the Rocky 
Mountains — Resident. 



114 eird-keeper's manual. 



EUROPEAN JAY. 

This bird is inferior in the brightness and va- 
riety of its colors to the American Blue Jay. Yet 
the colors of its plumage are chaste aud pleasing, 
and the variegated beauty spot on the wing, en- 
livening the whole, it is considered, and justly 
too, one of the most beautiful of European birds. 
It has the same lively and sprightly habits ; as 
ours it will articulate words, is familiar, docile 
and obedient, will imitate the notes of other birds, 
and it is said, when young, it may be taught to 
whistle a tune. 

Food. — In Europe it is fed on bread and milk, 
and it is said requires plenty of water to wash to 
keep it clean ; so would our Blue Jays, if kept 
on the same food. But I have had them, as clean 
and beautiful in a cage, as ever they were in the 
woods, whether they wash or not, and so would 
this bird too, if fed on the same yankee fare, 
good yellow meal and milk, plenty of gravel, 
water to wash, and a bit of beef two or three 
times a week. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 



CAROLINA PARROT. 115 

the upper parts, except the rump, of a pale brown- 
ish purple red ; the under parts of the same color, 
but much paler ; at the tail it becomes white. 
The feathers on the forehead are streaked with 
black, and can be erected into a crest at pleasure ; 
a line of black on each side of the head, the 
rump white, and part of the wing is beautifully 
marked with small bands of light blue, dark blue, 
and bluish white, all blended together, which 
ornaments the bird greatly. The female only 
differs in having the back of the neck, and part 
of the back grayish, instead of reddish purple, 
and all the colors being a little fainter. 

Location. — Found throughout Europe — Resi- 
dent. 



CAROLINA PARROT. 

Of nearly two hundred different kinds of 
Parrots, described by naturalists, this is the 
only species found within the territory of the 
United States. It is much prized in Europe, 
and in Paris it is said to cost more than any 
other ; and while there are many brought here 



116 bird-keeper's manual. 

from foreign countries, I have never seen a Caro- 
lina Parrot kept in a cage. This seems a verifi- 
cation of the truth of the old adage : A prophet 
has no honor in his own country. They are 
great favorites on the Continent of Europe for 
their beauty and docility ; and that enthusiastic 
and indefatigable ornithologist, Wilson, had one, 
which he carried in his pocket, tied in a hand- 
kerchief, for more than a thousand miles, in his 
journey through the wilderness from Nashville to 
Natchez, his sole companion in many a lonely 
and weary day's travel. He intended to take 
his favorite to Pennsylvania to finish its educa- 
tion, as he says, but it unfortunately perished in 
the Gulf of Mexico, by making a breach in its 
cage, and flying overboard while he was asleep. 

Food. — Wilson fed his, in the woods, on cockle 
burs, from which they extract the seeds, and 
beech nuts, but in a domestic state, of course 
they may be fed like others. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — As the females 
of this tribe of birds chatter and whistle as well 
as the males, the distinguishing marks are not of 
much consequence ; however, we will give them, 
if there are any. This bird is about thirteen 



EUROPEAN SISKIN FINCH. 117 

inches in length. The male has the fore part 
and sides of the head of a bright orange red ; the 
back part of the head and neck are bright yellow, 
the rest of the plumage is of an orange green. 
The male and female are very much alike ; there 
is rather less yellow on the neck of the female. 

Location. — Found in the inland Southern 
States— Resident. 



EUROPEAN SISKIN FINCH. 

This little bird is very rare in Britain, and I 
had never seen a live specimen. But since this 
work went to press I have received one from 
Palermo. It is a neat and pretty shaped bird, 
and is closely allied to the Goldfinch, and has all 
its habits and manners. It is found in Germany, 
and is there said to be a great favorite with the 
stocking-weavers, from the resemblance its note 
bears to the noise of their looms.^ The one I 
have in my possession is a male, and sings, and 
it has certainly a very peculiar note, but it is not 

* Bechstein. 



118 bird-keeper's manual. 

unpleasant. They will imitate the notes of other 
birds ; and the male Sisken will pair freely with 
the female Canary, and the singing of the produce 
is very much admired by some. They are also 
very apt to learn to draw their seed and water, 
like the Goldfinch. 

Food. — Treatment and food the same as the 
Goldfinch. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 
the top of the head, and under the beak, black ; 
the hind part of the head, and all the upper parts 
of the body yellowish green ; on the back streak- 
ed with brown, nearly yellow on the rump, the 
lower parts a greenish yellow, lighter on the belly, 
which is streaked with brown. There are two 
yellow bands across the wing, divided by one of 
black. The female has the crown and chin 
brown, and the other parts of the body are much 
duller in color. 

Location. — Sometimes seen in winter in Bri- 
tain. Found in several parts of the Continent of 
Europe — Resident. 



ORIOLES. 119 



SOUTH AMERICAN, ASIATIC, AND 
AFRICAN BIRDS. 



ORIOLES. 

Of this very numerous genus of birds, of which 
the Baltimore is a species, by far the greater part 
of them belong to the American Continent. They 
are remarkable for their docility and sagacity, 
and the great ingenuity they display in construct- 
ing their nests. And there are many of them 
domesticated by the inhabitants of South Ameri- 
ca, for the purpose of destroying the large insects 
and reptiles, with which the houses in those 
countries are infested. 



ICTERUS ORIOLE, OR TROOPIAL. 

This beautiful species is of a very lively disposi- 
tion, and possesses in an eminent degree the other 
qualifications of his tribe. There is one of these 
birds which has been kept in a family in this 
city for six years. He is as completely domesti- 



120 bird-keeper's manual. 

cated as any member of it. He will visit every 
apartment in the house, will answer to his name, 
and come when he is called. He knows the 
voice, and even the footsteps of the inmates of 
the family. He will play or fight with them, 
(which he seems to enjoy very much,) and loves 
to be fondled, like a dog. He seems to think 
also, that he has a right to protect his premises, 
and drive off all intruders. On leaving his cage 
one day he went up stairs, and on finding an 
artisan engaged repairing the lock of a room 
door, he commenced an attack upon him with 
great energy, and actually succeeded in drawing 
blood, before the man recovered from his sur- 
prise. He will sit on the hand of his mistress, 
and accompany her anywhere. When I saw 
him last his appearance indicated that he was 
taken good care of, and all his little wants sup- 
plied, for he was in good health and beautiful 
plumage. In addition to his other attractions he 
whistles melodiously. 

Food. — They may be fed on meal and milk, 
with a bit of meat occasionally, either cooked or 
raw. Berries in summer, and black currants in 
winter, and water to wash every day. They 
require a pretty large cage. 



ORIOLES. 121 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — This bird is 
larger than the Crow Black Bird, the head, 
throat, middle of the back, wings, and tail, black, 
remainder of the plumage a bright orange color. 
Across the wings there are two oblique bars of 
white ; on the top of the head, and below the 
bill, there are elongated feathers, which the bird 
can raise at pleasure. The plumage of the fe- 
male of these birds is duller and fainter in the 
colors. 

Location. — Found in different parts of South 
America, also, on the Island of Jamaica — Resi- 
dent. 



CACIQUE ORIOLE. 

This species is about the size of a Crow Black- 
bird. The color of the plumage is glossy black, 
on the shoulders is a broad strip of yellow ; also 
the rump and upper part of the tail, excepting 
the two middle feathers of the tail, which are 
black. 



RED RUMPED ORIOLE. 

This is an elegant species, although there is not 
8 



122 bird-keeper's manual. 

much variety in the colors. It is rather smaller 
in size than the former, and is entirely of a deep 
glossy black, excepting the rump which is of a 
vivid crimson. From the striking contrast of the 
colors, it has a fine appearance. This and the 
preceding species are sometimes brought here ; 
they have the same manners and habits, and the 
same whistling note. 

Food and treatment the same as the Icteric. 
They are natives of South America. 



BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE. 

This bird is about the size of the blue Jay. The 
head and neck is black ; the wings are striped 
with black and yellow ; the tail reddish, and the 
remainder of the plumage is of a bright golden 
yellow. This is an Asiatic species, and is some- 
times brought to this country. 

The food and treatment the same as the Icteric. 



Location. — Madras — Resident 



CRESTED DOMINICAN GROSSBEAK. 123 



CRESTED DOMINICAN GROSSBEAK. 

This is an elegant bird, and a very agreeable 
songster; and when in full plumage, with his 
fine arched crest, and the glowing crimson of his 
head and neck, contrasted with the chaste color- 
ing of the remainder of his plumage, has a very 
fine appearance. They are docile, and easily 
domesticated, and sing well in the cage. They 
are often brought here, and are named the South 
American Cardinal, to distinguish them from the 
Cardinal Grossbeak. 

Food. — A mixture of one-third hemp, and two- 
thirds Canary seed. They are very fond of ripe 
berries, which may be given them in summer, 
and a few black currants in winter; occasionally 
a bit of ripe apple. Gravel, and water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — This bird is 
about the size of the Cardinal Grossbeak. The 
male has the head and fore part of the neck a 
bright crimson color, on the head a long and full 
pointed crest; the back and wings are of a dark, 
ash color, the lower parts white, the two middle 
feathers of the tail are a dusky red, the others the 



124 bird-keeper's manual. 

color of the back. The female is duller and 
fainter in all the colors, and the back is speckled 
with white. 

Location. — Found in different parts of South 
America, especially in Brasil — Resident. 



MINO BIRD. 

This remarkable bird is about the size of our 
Crow Blackbird, and resembles it also in plum- 
age. It articulates words and sentences with 
wonderful distinctness. There was one at the 
Exchange Coffee House, in Boston, last sum- 
mer, who uttered the following sentences, which 
no doubt it had learned on its passage to this 
country : 

"Good morning. What are you going to do, Jerome'? 
How 's the wind, Jerome ? Jerome, what 's the clock? " 

This was articulated with surprising exactness, 
in a fine tenor voice ; and this is the more astonish- 
ing, as the tongue of this bird is long and slen- 
der, and not fleshy and rounded as in the parrot 
tribe, which is thought favorable to their articu- 
lation, from its resemblance to the tongue of the 
human species. 



MINO BIRD. 125 

There was also one of these birds in New York 
recently, which was celebrated for uttering sen- 
tences distinctly. I kept one myself about a year 
ago, for a short time : while with me he would 
whistle and imitate other sounds, but did not pro- 
nounce words ; since that time, I understand he 
has got the gift of speech also like the others. 

Food. — These birds are great eaters ; I fed 
mine on meal and milk, as a staple dish. If I 
approached the cage with anything in my hand 
that he could eat, (he was not particular) meat, 
cooked or raw, bread or potatoes, he would be 
down at the cage door putting his head through 
the wires, and uttering a whining cry ; and would 
always get some of it out of my hand, before I could 
open his cage door, or put it into the cage. They 
require plenty of gravel, and water to wash often. 
It may be worthy of remark here, that I have 
( always found those birds, which eat a good deal 
of food, all fond of bathing, and wash every day 
at least, if they have an opportunity. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — This bird re- 
sembles the Crow Blackbird in size and plumage, 
and is remarkable for a broad band of yellow 
skin, which begins on the side of the head, and 



126 bird-keeper's manual. 

extends to the nape of the neck on both sides, 
but does not meet; the plumage on the sides of 
the head is short, and resembles black velvet. 
There is little, if any, difference in plumage be- 
tween the male and female. 

Location. — Found on the Island of Java and 
in other parts of Asia. 



JAVA FINCH, OR SPARROW. 

This pretty little bird, although it does not 
excel as a songster, cannot be surpassed in the 
beauty of its plumage, nor the chaste delicacy of 
its colors. The close compactness of its feathers 
make its covering appear as if it was a solid sur- 
face, and when it is sitting still you might almost 
imagine that it was cut out of a fine, close-grain- 
ed piece of wood, and then highly polished and 
colored. They are also probably the neatest and 
cleanest bird that ever was in a cage. I have 
had thirty of these birds in a bamboo cage, which 
I kept for some time. During the time I had 
them I never saw them wash, (although I have 
seen them wash since, but they wash but sel- 



JAVA FINCH, OR SPARROW. 127 



dona,) and I never saw a spot on one of them ; 
they were always neat and clean. They are 
very loving, one to another, and always sit close 
together, although sometimes they would have 
little quarrels, but they never hurt one another 
much. The males have a very sweet, low, war- 
bling note. 

Food. — In their native country they feed upon 
rice; and when they are brought here they bring 
sometimes the unhulled rice with them, which is 
called paddy. But as we cannot procure it at 
all times, when I get them I always put them on 
Canary seed, (the Canary alone,) and I think it 
is much better for them, better even than the un- 
hulled rice, when it gets hard and dry. I knew 
of one that was kept alone, for seven years, in a 
cage, upon Canary seed. They will seldom eat 
anything else. I have had them sometimes, that 
would pick a little green stuff, but not often. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The bill of 
this bird is a deep carmine color ; the head and 
throat are jet black, with the exception of the sides 
of the head, which are pure white; the primaries 
or main feathers of the wings are black, as is 
also the rump and tail; the rest of the upper 



128 bird-keeper's manual. 

parts, and breast, are of a fine bluish gray, the 
belly a delicate grayish purple ; close to the tail 
white. I never could discover any difference be- 
tween the male and female, except in size ; the 
female is rather smaller. 

Location. — Found on the Island of Java, and 
throughout China — Resident. 



BROAD-SHAFTED WHIDAH FINCH. 

This elegant bird is remarkable for the size and 
beauty of the tail, the middle feathers of which, 
(although the body of the bird is not much larger 
than a Canary,) is twelve inches long. It is a 
splendid bird in a cage, and carries its extremely 
long tail gracefully, and manages it dexterously, 
in hopping from perch to perch. It has a very 
sweet and soft note, and keeps itself neat and 
clean; nor is it by any means a delicate bird, 
although from the torrid zone, but stands our 
climate very well, and is easily kept in a cage. 
It moults twice in the year, when a change takes 
place in its plumage, and it loses the long feathers 
in the tail, which it does not regain for .six months. 



BROAD-SHAFTED WHIDAH FINCH. 129 

it having those feathers only, (in its own coun- 
try,) in the breeding season. They should have 
a very large cage, and the perches pretty far 
apart. 

Food. — They are fed the same as the Canary 
Finch. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The upper 
parts of the male of this bird are a brownish 
black ; paler on the wings. On the upper part of 
the neck there is a broad collar of rich orange 
yellow ; the under parts are of a light buff color, 
at the tail black. After losing the long feathers 
the plumage becomes streaked with black and 
white, about the head and neck, and below with 
black and red. The female is of a brownish 
black, all over, and has not the long feathers in 
the tail. The length of the long feathers in the 
tail of the male is twelve inches. 

Location. — Found in Southern and Western 
Africa. 



130 bird-keeper's manual. 

CRIMSON-COLLARED WHLDAH. 

This is another beautiful species, rather larger 
than the former, and the tail is differently shaped. 
In this bird the middle feather is the shortest, the 
tail being forked ; round the upper part of the 
breast there is also a rich band of orange crimson. 
The plumage of this bird, both above and below, 
is of a jet glossy black, the side-feathers of the 
tail are six inches long. 



RED-BILLED WHLDAH. 

The tail of this species differs from the two pre- 
ceding; it is square like another bird's, and of a 
moderate length, except the four middle feathers, 
which are long, and so formed, that when closed, 
they have the appearance of one single feather. 
It is rather smaller in size than the first men- 
tioned ; the upper part of the head and back are 
a deep glossy black ; on the neck a white stripe, 
and towards the tail is white ; there is also a 
large spot of the same color on the wings, the 
lower parts are pure white. This and the pre- 
ceding species are also brought from Africa ; 
they live upon seeds, and are fine songsters. 



AMANDAVA, OR AVODAVINE FINCH. 131 



AMANDAVA, OR AVODAVINE FINCH. 

This beautiful little bird, although a native of the 
warm counties of Asia, bears the vicissitudes of 
our climate remarkably well; although small, 
they are hardy, and there are many of them kept 
in Boston, and other parts of the country. They 
are generally brought in pairs, but will live alone 
in a cage. Like all the Asiatic birds, they are 
very loving, and will sit close nestled together 
on the perch, whether males or females, picking 
round one another's bills like the Java Finches. 
The male is a delightful little songster, and, on 
hearing it for the first time, you are astonished 
that such a diminutive bird could sing such a loud 
note. In cold weather they should be kept mod- 
erately warm, but I have kept them in winter 
where there was no fire after sundown. 

Food. — They are generally fed on millet seed ; 
I have had those that would eat Canary ; they 
may have both; a blade of lettuce or cabbage 
occasionally ; gravel, and water to wash. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 
the head and lower parts of a deep fiery red ; the 
upper parts brownish gray, tinged with red ; 



132 bird-keeper's manual. 

nearly all the plumage is spotted white, largest 
on the wings. The female is smaller in size ; 
the head and upper parts are ashy gray ; the 
rump tinged with red ; the shoulders are spotted 
with white ; the lower parts of the body are of a 
pale orange color. 

Location. — Found in the Tropical countries 
of Asia — Resident. 



SENEGAL FINCH, OR SPICE BIRD. 

This pretty little songster is still smaller than 
the Amandava, and its note, although not quite 
so loud, is much more harmonious. The female 
also sings, and if there are a pair in the cage, 
they will sit closely nestled together and sing 
alternately, the male first, and then the female. 

Food. — Treatment and food the same as the 
Amandava Finch. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male has 
the bill red ; sides and fore part of the head and 
chin, black; the top of the head reddish, with 



DOVES. 133 

black spots ; the rest of the plumage is of a light 
reddish brown, spotted with black and brown. 
The female has the upper parts of a light brown; 
the lower parts, reddish gray. 

Location. — Found in various parts of Asia — 
Resident. 



DOVES. 



RING DOVE. 

This is a neat and pretty bird, mild and gentle 
in its disposition. I kept a pair for some time, 
(a good many years ago) but never could succeed 
in raising more than one bird at a hatching, the 
other egg either proving bad, or if both hatched, 
one of them would die, it appeared to me, from 
their carelessness in feeding, and I have heard often 
since, from those who keep them, the same com- 
plaint. They are very loving birds, the male 
hardly ever leaving the female, and when she is 



134 bird-keeper's manual. 

sitting on the nest, he passes the night close by 
her side. When the male coos, he does not turn 
round like others of his tribe, but walks up to 
the female, lowers his head, and swells out his 
crop, then raising his head, lowers it again, and 
so repeats a very plaintive note. When moving 
about, they have a more lively note, which re- 
sembles a person laughing They require a pretty 
large cage, and two boxes, fastened one at each 
end about six or eight inches from the bottom, 
containing some fine soft straw for their nests. 
In Europe they are named the " Collared -Turtle 
Dove." 

Food. — They will eat any kind of grain ; bar- 
ley, rice, or buckwheat is the best; they will 
also eat bread. They require plenty of gravel 
in bottom of the cage, and also to be kept in a 
moderate temperature in winter ; not too warm, 
for there are many, even tropical birds, who 
suffer from heat in our warm rooms in winter. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the upper parts of a reddish white, 
the lower parts pure white; there is a black 
crescent round the neck, the points of which 
come forward. The female is much whiter, and 
the ring paler. 



TURTLE DOVE. 135 

Location. — They are natives of the East In- 
dies and China, whence they are brought to 
America. 



TURTLE DOVE. 

This bird is also brought here and kept in 
cages Although not so common as the Ring- 
Dove, it is more prolific in a domestic state; and 
it is said it will pair with the Collared Turtle, 
and the produce prove more fruitful than the last 
mentioned bird alone. ^ The cooing of the male 
of this bird has less variety than the Ring-Dove, 
being a prolonged note, but his gestures before 
the female are about the same. We have a spe- 
cies of this bird in the United States, allied to 
this, the Asiatic species, (the Columba Carolinen- 
sis,) but I am not aware of any of them having 
been, kept in cages. 

Food, and size of cage the same as the Ring- 
Dove. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The male of 
this bird has the forehead white, the upper parts 

* Bechstein. 



136 bird-keeper's manual. 

of a whitish blue, darker towards the tail ; there 
is a black spot on each side of the neck, with a 
few whitish curved lines on it. This has a fine 
effect, and is named the beauty spot, the lower 
parts white. The female is grayish on the back, 
the beauty spot much fainter, lower parts grayish 
also. 

Location. — Found in Europe and Asia. In 
Northern Europe — Migratory. 



PARROTS. 



GRAY, OR AFRICAN PARROT. 

This bird, although not so gaudily colored as 
some of his tribe, is one of the most beautiful and 
valuable. There are numbers of them, imported 
both to this country and Europe, from Africa, 
where they are only found. They can be taught 
to whistle a tune distinctly, and correctly ; and 
they articulate words, and whole sentences, in a 
fine, full, and sonorous bass voice. And I be- 
lieve they are the only species of those birds 



GRAY, OR AFRICAN PARROT. 137 

which have propagated their kind in a domestic 
state. They are docile and intelligent, and form 
strong attachments to those who feed them. 
When young they are easily taught, and are 
possessed of good memories, never forgetting 
what they have once learned. A few years ago 
I had one in my possession for some time. I 
taught him to whistle, " Over the water to Char- 
ley." He whistled it clearly and correctly, and 
would speak some sentences very distinctly. 
I have had some of them since, which have 
showed the same facility in learning. 

Food. — The common staple diet for Parrots is 
bread and milk, as for Thrushes ; for this I have 
substituted for them, as well as the Thrushes, 
Indian meal and milk, and find it much better 
food for them. I had one of this species last 
summer, for two months, which I fed on meal 
and milk, and, two or three times a week, a piece 
of apple. He moulted during that time, and 
when he left me he was in beautiful plumage, and 
good health ; and I have in my possession now, a 
Green Parrot, which has no other food but a little 
mug of meal and milk, every morning. He is 
also moulting freely, and is in as good health as 
ever I saw a bird in that state. This season is 

9 



138 bird-keeper's manual. 

the most hazardous time for those birds, and I 
do not recollect of ever preserving a favorite 
Parrot, which had not died moulting. The Afri- 
can Parrot is very fond of meat, both raw and 
cooked ; but it brings on disease, and had better 
not be given. 

Characteristics of the Sexes. — The general 
color of this bird is a bluish silvery gray, the 
feathers on the upper parts edged with brownish 
gray. The tail a deep vermilion. There is no 
distinguishable difference between the male and 
female. 

Location. — Found on the Coast, and Interior 
of Africa — Resident. 



BRAZILIAN GREEN PARROT. 

This is a very beautiful species; it is often 
brought here, and is about the size of the African. 
It is docile and tractable, and may be taught to 
articulate words and sentences very distinctly. 

The front and round the bill of this bird is 
bright red, the sides of the head are a fine deep 



WHITE-FRONTED PARROT. 139 

blue, the crown a bright yellow, the shoulders, 
pretty far down on the wings, are red, the wing 
feathers are edged with yellow, the main, or 
longest, a deep blue. The tail feathers are finely 
marked with deep blue, yellow, and red. 

Food. — Meal and milk, a bit of apple, a few 
cracked nuts, occasionally, of which they are 
very fond. 

Location. — Found in the different parts of 
South America, especially in Brazil — Resident. 



WHITE-FRONTED PARROT. 

This is another very elegant species, which is 
sometimes brought here. They are larger in 
size than the former, and are very gentle, and 
familiar in their manners, and easily taught to 
speak, and whistle snatches of tunes. 

Food. — Treatment and food the same as the 
Brazilian. 

Location. — Found in different parts of South 
America — Resident. 



140 bird-keeper's manual. 

Of this very numerous tribe, or genus, of birds, 
nearly all of which inhabit the warmer regions of 
the Oid and New World, there are the Maccaws, 
the Cockatoos, the Lorys, and the Parrakeets. 
There are some of them which may be taught to 
speak and to whistle, and are docile and of gen- 
tle manners, and some of them are truly splendid 
in their plumage. Yet by far the greater part of 
them are so extremely vociferous and noisy, that 
they are much more at home in the menagerie 
than in the parlor. 



INSTRUCTIONS 



FOR THE 



BREEDING OF CANARY BIRDS, 



AND THE 



PROPER TREATMENT OF THE YOUNG. 



LOCATION FOR BREEDING. 

If you intend to breed your birds flying at 
large in a room, and have a choice, choose one, 
the windows of which look to the south-east ; if 
in cages, place them in the same situation, for the 
same purpose, to have the benefit of the morning 
sun, which is very beneficial, especially to the 
young birds. If you breed in a room, you must 
have one or two windows latticed with wire, so 
put on that you can raise the window to admit 
the air when it is mild, and shut it down when 
cold. It is better not to have the open windows 
opposite one to the other, as this makes a draft 
through the room, which I have found, by expe- 



142 bird-keeper's manual. 

rience, to be injurious to the young birds, espe- 
cially when moulting. If you use cages, hang 
them on the wall opposite the windows, where 
they will have the early sunshine longest ; this 
is much better than hanging them on the roof or 
near the window. 

PAIRING. 

If the weather is mild you may put your birds 
together about the first of March. Those that 
are intended to be bred in a room had better be 
put in a cage for ten or twelve days to pair ; they 
may pair before that time. Those who are not 
familiar with birds, may know that they are 
paired by seeing them feed each other. They 
may then be turned into the room, where there 
are nesting places provided for them. You need 
not be alarmed if they should fight a little, as 
those fighting birds generally breed the best. I 
have seen a female keep the male down in the 
bottom of the cage for a couple of days, and not 
allow him to get on a perch. She would sit on 
the top perch, stooping down, with her wings half 
stretched like a hawk, and if he should dare to 
come any nearer to her. by even getting on the 
lower perch, she would pounce on him like a 
Falcon on its prey, and knock him down to his 



TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 143 

former position at the bottom of the cage. At 
last he will get desperate, pluck up courage, 
and succeed in placing her in the situation that 
he was formerly, hut he will be more merciful 
than she was, for he will not keep her there long; 
they will then soon make up matters and raise a 
large family. 

Birds, intended to be paired in the spring, 
should not be kept together in the winter, as the 
male will not sing so well, and they will not 
breed so readily when the breeding season comes. 
When your birds begin to moult, their breeding, 
for the season, 'is over ; they should then be sepa- 
rated and well fed, and your attention directed to 
the young. * r 

In pairing birds that are of different colors, 
there are some rules to be observed, that you 
may have those colors pure and bright in your 
young birds. In pairing the male primitive green 
Canary (dark green above and yellow below) 
with a pure white or bright yellow female, there 
may be some of the brood like the male, and 
some like the female, or part mottled like both ; 
the young will be strong and healthy, and the 
males good singers, as the dark green birds are 
generally excellent songsters; the colors, also, will 
be pure and bright. Many years ago I bred a 



144 bird-keeper's manual. 

pair of dark green Canaries ; in the first brood 
there were two yellow birds; this rather sur- 
prised me until I thought of the cause : one of 
the old birds, or perhaps both, had been produced 
by yellow and green Canaries. If you wish to 
have pure yellow birds, pair a bright yellow 
male with the whitest hen you can procure ; if 
mottled or splashed birds, pair a bright yellow 
male with a bright mottled female, or a mottled 
male with a pure white female.^ The blending 
of the colors of these birds has arrived to such a 
height of late, and the bird-fanciers of Europe 
have got them by mixing, so striped, streaked, 
spotted, and speckled, that it must be very diffi- 
cult for. one poor little Canary bird to know an- 
other. But not only in color have they trans- 
mogrified them, (for as the Flat-head Indians are 
said to flatten the heads of their offspring,) so we 
might almost suppose that they stretched out the 
young of the Canary bird, for they have got some 
of them almost as long as two common birds. 
For some of those birds high prices are given, 
but it is mere fancy ; the breed is not superior 

* Do not pair two mottled or splashed birds, as the colors will be 
faint or mealy; or two Yellow Birds, except they be very large 
and pure, as they will degenerate in size and color ; nor two crested 
birds, as the crests of some will be imperfect. 



TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 145 

except, in the opinion of some, to the eye. The 
long birds are tender and delicate, and will not 
bear the vicissitudes of our climate like the 
others. And for song, I have had, and may have 
now, a stout, original green Canary, or a good, 
strong Yellow Bird that has been bred here, that 
you might hang in an attic all winter without 
fire, which will sing as sweet a note as any 
long bird I have ever heard in New York or 
Boston. Never pair birds of the same family to- 
gether ; if you wish to breed any of your young 
birds, exchange with some of your neighbors, or 
purchase mates for them. This close breeding 
degenerates the birds, and finally they become 
good for nothing. 



BREEDING CAGES, NESTS, &c. 

I have bred Canaries in rooms and in cages, 
and I prefer the latter method, not only because 
I have been more successful in this way, but I 
think there is more pleasure and gratification in 
breeding in cages. You can go close up to the 
cage and look at them when feeding their young, 
without startling them, or take down the nests and 
see if all is right, and attend to their little wants, 



146 bird-keeper's manual. 

without frightening other hens off their nests, and 
have them all flying around you ; and there is 
no fear of confusion amongst them, or of their 
quarrelling together, in a room, as I have seen 
them ; for birds will get irritated sometimes as 
well as men, and fight too. Two or three years 
ago I had about fifteen females, all sitting on 
eggs together in nests in a room. For a few days 
they all sat Avell, and I had every prospect of 
having a large family of young Canaries, when 
one lady bird began to get restless, and come off 
her nest oftener than was necessary to eat ; then 
she began to visit her neighbors, and at last got, 
like some other lady birds, to be a complete gad- 
der abroad, and we almost gave up all hopes of 
her ever raising her family, and thought some of 
removing her out of the community. One day, in 
my absence, (as there are degrees in crime,) she 
had commenced pilfering from some of her steady 
neighbors ; they had resented, of course ; then 
came the tug of war, and Greek met Greek. 
The males had interfered to make peace, as was 
their bounden duty; the other lady birds, seeing 
their lords in danger, had come to the rescue, and 
there was nothing but riot and confusion, in this 
hitherto peaceful community. And when I ar- 
rived I found the floor strewed with broken eggs 



TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 147 

and fragments of nests ; and where I had antici- 
pated a fine harvest of young Canary birds, all 
was ruin and desolation. I immediately removed 
the delinquent, and two or three of the most 
furious of the combatants ; but the mischief was 
done ; this naughty female had imbued them all 
with her wicked spirit, and they fought and 
quarrelled, and quarrelled and fought, forsook 
their nests, or fought over them, until they broke 
the eggs in them ; and from the whole I do not 
believe I had ten young birds. 

A cage, to breed a pair of birds comforta- 
bly, should not be less than eighteen inches 
long. To each corner, opposite the door, pretty 
near the top, put a ring of common cage wire ; 
take two of those little baskets which are 
imported from Germany every season, and after 
putting in a little tow or oakum, (the last is a 
good preventive against those little red mites) 
to fill them up, as they are made rather 
deep, line them inside with a piece of new 
woollen flannel, (which is better than the cot- 
ton,) sew it well through the basket with linen 
thread, and make it smooth inside ; it will then 
be something like a teacup ; then fit the rings in 
the cage to the nests, and make them fast by 
turning the ends over and driving them into the rail 
of the cage. Let the nests go pretty well down. 



14S bird-keeper's manual. 

so as not to tilt when the bird hops on them ; and 
it is well to put a little edge on the top of them, 
so as they will not go down through. Make 
them fit easy, so that you can take them out and 
look at the eggs, or young. If you live in the 
country you may make the baskets yourself, of 
twigs, or splints of wood, as I have often done ; 
then take some cotton wicking, and cut it in 
short pieces, and a few feathers. When the bird 
layed, if those materials were not put in snugly, 
I always take them out, as they are apt to catch 
their feet and pull the eggs out of the nest; then 
the eggs lay on the flannel, which is quite suffi- 
cient. Put in both your nests when you put in 
your birds, and let the female make her choice. 
This is necessary, for, when the young are about 
ten days old, she will leave the care of them to 
the male, who will rear them, and lay again, in 
the other nest. When the young leave a nest, 
take it out and put in a new one, or take all the 
lining of it, bake it in the oven, or throw it into 
boiling water, and then line it anew. These 
precautions are necessary, to destroy any of those 
mites which may have got about the nest, or pre- 
vent their breeding. This simple method of pre- 
paring the nests, I have found the best for the 
comfort and convenience of the birds ; and I have 



TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 149 

been very successful in breeding them. It may 
be sufficient to say, that from a pair of birds I 
had twenty-one young ones, in one season, all 
alive and well. If you wish your birds to build 
their own nests, in place of the baskets, put up 
boxes four inches square, and three inches deep, 
made of thin wood;^ then furnish your birds 
with some fine, dry grass ; such as grows about 
the roots of bushes and fences is good, and some 
cotton wick cut in short pieces ; also, some deer, 
or cow's hair ; the hair should be washed clean, 
then put into a warm oven, or dried before the 
fire. Strew those materials over the bottom of 
the cage, or put them separately, in pieces of net, 
and hang them in the corners of the cage, and 
they will pull them out as they want them. It 
is better not to put but one box in at first, as they 
may amuse themselves by carrying the materials 
from one to another, and thereby lose time. Be- 
fore you put in the box, take some of the grass, 
and fashion the frame of a nest, as neat as you 
can, (this will save time, and the labor of the 
birds,) and they will finish it to suit themselves, 

* Camphor wood, or red cedar, is the best, if it can be procured, 
(as the mites will not breed in it,) if not, common cedar ; nail them 
close together, in the joints, and give them a good coat of copal var- 
nish, and hang them in the sun to dry. 



150 bird-keeper's manual. 

or rather she will, for the female is the master- 
builder, the male only an assistant, or laborer, 
bringing her the materials. I have seen a female 
pounce upon the poor male, and give him an un- 
merciful thrashing, when he had merely hopped 
in, to try how it would suit him, while she was 
engaged building it, and had probably gone to 
eat. If you wish the birds to do the whole of the 
building of the nest, put in the box empty, and 
they will carry in all the grass, or hay, with the 
other material, themselves. 



HATCHING, AND TREATMENT OF THE YOUNG. 

On putting your birds in the cage, to pair, give 
one-third of a hard-boiled egg to a pair, every 
morning, yolk, white, and shell; add to their 
portion of hemp and Canary seed, some rape, and 
put in the cage, or stick in the wires, a piece of 
old lime plaster, from a ceiling, or wall.^ When 
the female commences laying, she will lay an 
egg every morning until her complement is laid. 

* Some use cuttle fish bone ; it is the lime contained in the bone 
that is useful, therefore the old plaster is superior. 






TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 151 

The number is generally five, sometimes six, or 
four, and some young hens will set upon three. 
Some females will not set until they have done 
laying; others will commence setting on laying 
the first egg, and it has been said by some, that, in 
this case, the egg should be taken out, and a false 
one put in its place, until the complement is laid, 
and then the whole put back into the nest again. 
This is taking a great deal of trouble, without 
any necessity for it, and the risk of breaking the 
eggs into the bargain ; for if the young are 
hatched, one every morning, the one is nourished 
and fed before the next comes, and so on ; and in 
the other case, where all are hatched together, 
the male assists in nourishing and feeding them, 
and all is well. There is very often one bad egg 
in the nest ; when the youngest is two days old, 
take the box, or basket, which contains the nest, # 
in your left hand, introduce the little finger of 
the right gently under the young, and get out the 
bad egg, as it takes up room in the nest, and if it 
should get broke is very unpleasant. When I 
had six young at a hatching, which I have some- 
times had, 1 prepared a large nest, and when 

* Both boxes and baskets should be so fixed, that they can be 
taken down for this purpose ; and occasionally to see how the young 
thrive. 



152 bird-keeper's manual. 

they were five or six days old removed them 
gently into it, as the common sized nests, when 
they grow older, would prove too small for them. 
When the young are hatched increase the egg 
to one half, or more ; the whole of it as before. 
Some give only the yolk, this is wrong; when 
very young the yolk is too heating and rich for 
them. Add to this a slice of good baker's bread, 
moistened with pure water; the parents will 
then feed with the three together.^ Be careful 
that the bread is not sour. If there are four or 
five young, they may require fresh egg and bread 
in the afternoon, as they grow older. Give them 
fresh bread and egg every morning, as soon after 
sunrise as is convenient; and, if the weather is 
warm, about noon, remove what may be in the 
saucer; rinse it with water, and give them fresh 
egg and bread. The male takes an active part 
in the feeding of the young whenever they are 
hatched, but, the female alone sits on them; and 
when they get large, and begin to feather, she 
will sit by them, or on the side of the nest at 
night. When they are about ten days old, (as 
before mentioned,) she will leave the care alto- 



* I have seen a parent bird take a pick of the yolk, of the white 3 
and of the bread, to feed a bird not many hours old. 



TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 153 

gether to the male, and lay again in the other 
nest. The male will feed them regularly, and 
also his mate, whenever she calls him, which 
she will whenever she does not feel disposed to 
leave her nest. He will attend to his duty dili- 
gently, and the young are sometimes safer, under 
the charge of the male than the female, especially 
if she is a young mother. I have often gazed 
with pleasure on the male, after having a fine 
brood of young left under his charge. He would 
first hop gently on the nest, and survey them all 
over, with delight sparkling in his eyes ; and 
when, on his uttering a low note, they would 
raise their heads and open their mouths, over- 
joyed he would quickly obey the call, fly down to 
the bottom of the cage, take two or three mouth - 
fuls, then fly up and put it into one of two of 
their little throats, then down again, and when 
they were all satisfied, and he would take care 
that there were none unfed, he would hop on 
his roost, and pour forth strains of melody, which 
seemed to me to say: "Now I have done my 
duty I am happy ; I will now sing my best song." 
When the young begin to eat alone, and pick 
about the bottom of the cage, take an equal part 
of hemp and rape seed, and bruise it in a mortar, 
or on a table with a rolling-pin ; put it in a sau- 

10 



154 bird-keeper's manual. 

cer, or other shoal vessel, then into the cage. 
Whenever you think they can eat well enough to 
be alone, remove them out of the breeding-cage, 
as they annoy the mother when sitting, by crowd- 
ing around the nest ; and she does not scruple, 
sometimes, to rob them of a few of their feathers, 
to keep her eggs warm. 

When you remove your young put them into 
a pretty large cage, where they can have plenty 
of room to fly ; they will feather better, and be 
clean. Remove them in the morning ; and if 
they should keep chirping all day, and not eat, 
in the afternoon take the male out of the breed- 
ing cage, and put him in beside them, and he 
will feed them all. Keep him there until near 
night ; then put him back to his mate again, and 
they will eat the next day without any trouble. 
Put in the rape and hemp seed, bruised, as for- 
merly ; this I have found very beneficial for 
young birds. Put in, also, Canary seed, and egg 
and bread, as formerly; withdraw all the soft 
food gradually, but as soon as you can, as they 
will thrive better, and be much more healthy and 
vigorous, when you get thern to live on their 
seed alone. 



TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 155 



MOULTING OF THE YOUNG. 

Although the moulting of young birds is only 
partial, as they do not in general shed their wing 
or tail feathers, they require more care and atten- 
tion than at their future moultings. It generally 
takes place when they are about two months old, 
sometimes when younger, or older. At this time 
they sleep sometimes during the day, with their 
head under their wing. They now require nour- 
ishing food, and to be kept moderately warm. If 
the weather is warm open the window, and let 
them have air ; but do not put the cage where 
there is a draft of air ; the same if in a room, do 
not have opposite windows open, and be careful 
to shut them, when the cool of the evening ap- 
proaches. Let them also have the benefit of the 
sunshine, morning and evening. If too warm in 
the middle of the day, drop the curtain of the 
window, or throw something over the cage. 
With the seed, as before, give, two or three times 
a week, a bit of baker's bread, moistened with 
milk, and, once or twice a week, a portion of 
hard-boiled egg, chopped fine ; and, occasionally, 
some lettuce, or cabbage, and keep a piece of 
rusty iron in the water dish. By using those 



156 bird-keeper's manual. 

precautions, and administering to their little 
wants, you will soon have your feathered friends 
in good health and beautiful plumage; and they 
will amply repay you for your care and attention, 
by their enlivening and cheerful songs during the 
ensuing winter. 



MOULTING OF THE OLD BIRDS. 

The old birds generally moult about the begin- 
ning of autumn. They require also nourishing 
food at this period. Give them freely of rape- 
seed, a bit of bread dipped in milk, and occa- 
sionally a bit of hard-boiled egg, and lettuce or 
cabbage. Sometimes it happens, that from some 
cause, this operation of nature is retarded or stop- 
ped, and the bird does not shed his old feathers, or 
does it very slowly, in this case I have found it 
efficacious to put a few cloves in the water, and 
give them plenty of green stuff. If the weather 
is cold when they moult, do not expose them to 
it ; but if mild and warm, I have found it bene- 
ficial to an old bird, when moulting, to be kept 
outside of a window or door ; at least, let them 
have plenty of free air, and keep a rusty nail in 



TREATMENT OF CANARY BIRDS. 157 

water. In moulting, the proper treatment of the 
old birds is about the same as the young, only 
they do not require so much care and attention, 
as the most hazardous time with Canaries is their 
first moulting. 



DISEASES, 



TO WHICH 



CANARIES, AND OTHER BIRDS ARE LIABLE, 



IN A 



DOMESTIC STATE 



Inflammation of the Bowels. ■ — Young Cana- 
ries, when fed upon egg and bread, and such nu- 
tritious food, get sick, and their appearance indi- 
cates an attack of this disorder. The skin of the 
belly is distended, and the feathers come off, and 
leave the skin bare, and the veins under it are 
blue and surcharged with blood, and on dissec- 
tion, the bowels are found inflamed, and black 
towards the vent. On the first appearance of this 
disorder withdraw the rich food, and give your 
birds a little lettuce seed and Canary alone, plenty 
of green stuff, and put a rusty nail in the water. 
But in prescribing for the diseases of birds, and 



DISEASES OF CANARY AND OTHER BIRDS. 159 

other animals too, the old adage holds good, that 
" An ounce of preventive is worth a pound of 
cure;" and to avoid this and other disorders, I 
endeavor to get my young Canaries from their 
soft and luscious food as soon as possible to their 
plain seed, on which they are much healthier. 

Constipation, or Costiveness. — The good old 
singing Canaries, and other birds who live upon 
seeds, are often troubled with this ailment ; it may 
be discovered by the bird jerking down his body 
when he voids, or tries to, and raising his tail. A 
bit of bread dipped in milk and a blade of cabbage 
will cure it. It is well to stick a bit of bread, 
moistened with milk, in the cages of your seed- 
birds occasionally, it will prove beneficial to them. 

Epilepsy. — This disease some birds are sub- 
ject to ; bleeding is prescribed by some, by cut- 
ting one or two of the nails of the claws until 
they bleed. I prefer cold baths. Many years 
ago I had a pair of Cardinal Grossbeaks both in 
one cage; one day the female had one of these 
fits ; when I discovered her I found her lying on 
her back, at the bottom of the cage, pulling her 
feathers out, and she had succeeded in stripping 
her lower parts completely bare of feathers ; I 
immediately took her out and plunged her into 
the water-pail, and after allowing her time to 



160 bird-keeper's manual. 

breathe I put her in again. Being determined to 
test the virtue of this mode of proceeding, I put 
her into the water a third time, and then put her 
back into the cage. I kept her, I think, nearly 
three months after this, her feathers soon came 
on again, and she sung sweetly,^ and never had 
another fit, at least when with me. 

Asthma. — If you have a bird attacked with 
this disorder, which you will know by its making 
a croaking or wheezing noise when it breathes, 
take a piece of baker's bread, soak it in water, 
then squeeze the water out of it, and boil it well 
in milk. Give them freely of this every day, with 
plenty of cabbage or lettuce, and if your bird is 
not a very old one it will soon recover. 

Diarrhoea. — Put a piece of rusty iron in your 
water-dish, (and do not change the water oftener 
than twice a week.) and bread boiled in milk, as 
for the asthma; boil it well in this case, so as 
when it is cold it will cut like cheese ; give them 
freely of it, and plenty of vegetables. For young 
Canaries and other seed birds, mix with the paste 
some scalded rape seed ; this mode of treatment 
for this disease is generally successful. 

Diseases of the Feet. — Thrushes, and other 

* The female of this species sings. 



DISEASES OF CANARY AND OTHER BIRDS. 161 

birds, are sometimes troubled with this ; it is often 
occasioned by the feet and legs getting dry and 
hard, and the scales contracted, and the shedding 
of them being protracted, causes much pain to the 
bird, and often lameness. Wash the feet and 
shanks of the bird, once or twice a day, with 
some warm milk and water, and rub them with a 
little lard ; when they get soft, remove the scales 
gently, this treatment will soon effect a cure. 

By getting it caught in the wires, or from some 
other cause, a bird will sometimes unfortunately 
break its leg. In this case take the perches out 
of the cage, and spread a piece of flannel smoothly 
on the bottom. If you have glasses in your cage, 
take them out, and stop up the holes, then put the 
food into very shallow vessels so as the bird can 
eat and drink without getting up, or rising on its 
legs. Nature will now do the rest, the bone will 
soon knit, and the bird get well. By this mode 
of treatment I have in general been successful in 
effecting a complete cure. 

The claws of a bird that has been kept in a 
cage for some time will grow long, so as to annoy 
the bird in leaping from perch to perch in catching 
round them, and might be the cause of the bird's 
injuring itself as before mentioned. In this case, 
take the bird in your left hand, and holding its 



162 bird-keeper's manual. 

leg between your ringers, cut the nails off the 
claws with a pair of sharp scissors ; you need not 
cut too far up, to touch the quick, as it hurts the 
bird, (but it will not injure it) ; if you should the 
first, cut less off the others. 

Moulting. — Though not, properly speaking, a 
disease, yet during this operation of nature, all 
birds are more or less sick, and some suffer se- 
verely. And it is rather remarkable, that this is 
the case even among birds of the same species, 
some getting through the operation much easier 
than others. If we look at birds in a state of na- 
ture, we will find that at the time of moulting they 
have their food in the greatest abundance scat- 
tered around them in profusion, when they are 
least capable of making exertions to procure it. 
The mode of treatment of birds, in a domestic 
state, is here clearly pointed out. They require 
plenty of nourishing food, as near natural as we 
can possibly procure it. Worms, insects, and 
fruit, to those birds who eat them, and to those 
who live upon dry seeds, bread dipped in milk, 
fruit and vegetables : to supply the waste of 
moisture and strength, occasioned by the growth 
of an entire new covering for their bodies. 

Loss of Voice. — Sometimes it will happen 
that a bird, after moulting, does not sing. This, 



MITES. 163 

I think, proceeds rather from the notes escaping 
the memory, than any physical defect in the 
bird. By hanging a bird that has been brought 
to me in this state near a good singer, and feed- 
ing him well two or three days, he has soon 
found his voice again. 



MITES. 



These troublesome little insects first infest the 
cages, and then prey upon the poor birds. Under 
the ornaments on the heads of the posts, and un- 
der the perches, and about the head of the cage, 
are the places they are generally found. They 
are not so fond of the lower parts of the cage. 
I am happy to make public a destroyer of those 
tormentors of my feathered favorites, which I 
have used with complete success, and without 
the least injury to the birds. Take about half 
an ounce of corrosive sublimate, and dissolve it 
in a pint of spirits of wine, or high proof alcohol, 
and apply it with a hair-pencil ; it kills the in- 
sects immediately, and then penetrates into the 
wood, leaving nothing that the bird can pick ; 
and wherever you touch with it there will be no 



164 bird-keeper's manual. 

insect, at least that season. This solution should 
be marked and carefully put away, as it is rank 
poison. 



INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE REARING OF AMERI- 
CAN BIRDS FROM THE NEST. 

A difference of opinion exists as to the proper 
time to take the nests of young birds. Some say, 
when they begin to feather; others, when the 
tail feathers begin to grow. When I reared them 
I always thought it best to let them have as much 
of the parents' care as possible ; and I always 
let them get pretty well feathered, before I took 
them ; and I let them stop until within two or 
three days of leaving the nest. If they are in- 
clined to hop out when you get them home, this 
is easily prevented by throwing a light covering 
over them, until they get strong enough to stand 
on their legs. Young birds should be fed at 
least every two hours, some oftener ; and small, 
delicate birds, should have, at first, a little every 
hour. They should be fed as soon after sunrise 
as possible, and not after sundown. If it is im- 
possible, owing to the nature of your avocation, 



REARING OF AMERICAN BIRDS FROM THE NEST. 165 

to attend to them so often, keep them in a dark 
place, as they will not be so impatient for their 
food as when kept in the light. 

Feed Thrushes and other large birds, that eat 
worms and insects, on meal and milk, mixed 
with a bit of lean beef, minced fine, or meal 
worms, or maggots, or small earth worms, if 
clean, (but, as they are in general full of earth,) 
I prefer the beef. For Finches, and other small 
birds, take a piece of stale, wheat bread, soak it in 
water, then squeeze the water out ; put it in a pan, 
with some new milk, and boil it well until it is 
about the thickness of paste, and mix with it 
some hemp, or rape seed, or millet, bruised in a 
mortar, or on a table with a rolling-pin. And 
for other small birds, which eat insects, mix with 
it, some meal worms, or maggots, chopped fine, 
or ant's eggs, which my young friends in the 
country will know where to find. And if they 
will observe what the old birds are fond of, and 
especially what they feed their young with, and 
procure some for theirs, they will be the more 
successful in rearing their birds. 



166 bird-keeper's manual. 



WHAT THOSE WHO KEEP BIRDS OUGHT NOT 

TO DO. 

Do not keep a bird in a room that is painting, 
or has been newly painted, until the effluvia of 
the paint is completely gone. 

Do not hang your bird over a stove, or above 
the mantel-piece, or over a grate which contains 
fire. 

Do not put a bird and cage in a window, and 
then shut it down upon it ; there is a draft then 
through the cage that may be injurious to the 
bird. 

Do not wash your cage bottom, but scrape it 
clean with a knife, and then put on some fresh 
gravel ; the moisture tends to breed those little 
red mites, and is injurious to the bird. 

Do not keep birds together all winter, which 
you intend to breed in the spring. They will not 
do so well as if they were apart. 

Do not keep single birds in a room where 
others are breeding. And do not keep males 
and females, in breeding season, in a room in 
separate cages ; or you may lose your birds by 
what is called the pairing fever. 

THE END. 



JAMES MANN, 

TAXIDERMIST, DEALER IN AMERICAN AND 

FOREIGN SINGING BIRDS, FANCY PIGEONS, 

RARE FOWLS, &c. 

22, WATER STREET, BOSTON. 



BIRDS, QUADRUPEDS, AND ALL OTHER SUBJECTS OF 

NATURAL HISTORY, PRESERVED, PREPARED, AND 

MOUNTED IN A VERY SUPERIOR MANNER, 

FOR PUBLIC OR PRIVATE COLLECTIONS. 



PIGEONS, FOWLS, PET QUADRUPEDS, SINGING BIRDS, 
CAGES, NESTS, AND BIRD SEEDS, 
CONSTANTLY FOR SALE. 



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